Fig. 6

In vivo photothermal imaging and PTT study: a in vivo photothermal imaging with NS, PB NPs, and IBC-PB composites in a 4T1 tumor bearing Balb/c nude mouse model. b Temperature changes in the tumor regions after laser irradiation (808-nm, 2 W cm⁻², 5 min) of NS, PB NPs, and IBC-PB composites (n = 3, mean ± s.d.). c Temperature increases at the tumor regions before and after laser irradiation of NS, PB NPs, and IBC-PB composites (n = 3, mean ± s.d.). d Tumor volume and (e) body weight profiles of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice after PTT (808 nm, 2 W cm⁻², 5 min) peritumorally injected with NS, PB NPs, and IBC-PB composites (n = 3, mean ± s.d.). f Tumor growth suppression ratio 18 days after follow-up based on tumor volume measurements. *: P < 0.05, **: P < 0.01, ***: P < 0.001. The statistical analysis was conducted by means of a student’s t test for b, c, and d. (IBC-PB IBC-PB composites)