Fig. 6

Combination of AE-MGNPs and α-CTLA-4 in CT26 tumor model. (a) AE-MGNPs and α-CTLA-4 combination treatment scheme. (b) Photographs of the excised tumors on day 23. (c) Tumor growth profiles after administration with PBS, AE-MGNPs, α-CTLA-4 or AE-MGNPs combined α-CTLA-4. (d) Tumor growth-inhibition rate and (e) tumor weight in the end of the experiments. After first α-CTLA-4 treatment (day 12), serum and primary tumor tissue were collected for the analysis of (f) TNF-α, (g) IL-6, (h) IFN-γ levels in serum and for analysis of the content of (i) CD3⁺/CD8⁺ T cells. (j) Representative images and statistical analysis of H&E staining (upper), TUNEL assays (middle), IHC analysis of the expression level of Ki-67 (down) in tumor sites. The area circled by the black line was the necrotic area of the tumor. Scale bar, 50 μm. **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.005, ****P < 0.001