FIGURE SUMMARY
Title

Fluorescent Imaging-Guided Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with HCPT@NMOFs-RGD Nanocomposites

Authors
Shang, Y., Zhang, H., Cheng, Y., Cao, P., Cui, J., Yin, X., Fan, S., Li, Y.
Source
Full text @ Int. J. Nanomedicine

Synthesis and characterization of HCPT@NMOFs-RGD. (A) Scheme for the synthesis of HCPT@NMOFs-RGD nanocomposites. (B) TEM image of NMOFs. (C) View of NMOFs with uniform triangular 1D channels observed in the structure. (D) TEM images of NMOFs-RGD. Note that the RGD layer is distributed around the NMOFs at a thickness of 15 nm. (E) Fluorescence spectra (excitation at 530 nm) of NMOFs-RGD aqueous solution. (F) Absorbance spectra of ABDA in the presence of NMOFs-RGD over different periods under laser irradiation at 655 nm. (G) HCPT release performance of HCPT@NMOFs-RGD nanocomposites in PBS. Scale bar in (B): 0.2 μm; (D): 100 nm.

In vitro fluorescence imaging and cytotoxicity of NMOFs-RGD. (A) Fluorescence images of HepG2 cells exposed to NMOFs-RGD. Red signals are from NMOFs-RGD. Note that NMOFs-RGD are localized at the membrane and in the cytoplasm. (B) Statistical analysis of fluorescence intensity in NMOFs-RGD-incubated cells (Student’s t-test; *P<0.05, **P<0.01). (C) Statistical analysis of cell viability in HepG2 cells incubated with NMOFs (control) and NMOFs-RGD. Scale bar in (A): 20 μm.

Time-lapse distribution of NMOFs-RGD in zebrafish larvae. (A) Fluorescence and (B) bright field images of NMOFs-RGD-exposed larvae at different hours post exposure (hpe). Red fluorescence was emitted by NMOFs-RGD. (C) Merged images from (A and B). Scale bar: 100 μm.

Targeted delivery of NMOFs-RGD to tumor tissue in HCC-bearing zebrafish. (A) The expression of integrin αvβ3. Red fluorescent signals are from integrin αvβ3-expressing cells. (B) The distribution of NMOFs-RGD in the liver of HCC krasG12V zebrafish. Red fluorescent signals are from NMOFs-RGD. Scale bar: 20 μm.

Time-lapse distribution of NMOFs-RGD in tumor-bearing mice. (A) Thermal images of NMOFs-RGD in control and tumor-bearing mice at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours (h) postinjection. (B) Thermal images of NMOFs-RGD in different organs of tumor-bearing mice: (a) tumor, (b) spleen, (c) liver, (d) intestine, (e) heart, (f) stomach, (g) kidney, and (k) lung.

The chemotherapeutic effect of HCPT@NMOFs-RGD in HCC-bearing zebrafish. (A) Thermal imaging, (B) bright field, and (C) EGFP fluorescence of HCC-bearing zebrafish following HCPT@NMOFs-RGD treatment at 0 (control), 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post treatment (hpt). (D) Statistical analysis of the intensity of thermal imaging (n=3 at each time point; ANOVA, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). (E) Statistical analysis of the intensity of EGFP-positive areas (n=3 at each time point; ANOVA, *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). Scale bar in (B and C): 200 μm.

Time-lapse appearance of livers in HCC-bearing zebrafish following HCPT@NMOFs-RGD treatment. (A) Images of HCPT@NMOFs-RGD distribution in livers at 0 (control), 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post treatment (hpt). (B) Images of EGFP fluorescence. (C) DAPI staining. (D) Merged images of (AC). Scale bar: 20 μm.

The reduction of tumors in HCC-bearing mice following chemo-, photodynamic-, and synergistic therapy. (A) Images of tumors following different treatments at 12 days post treatment (dpt). Note that one tumor in the HCPT@NMOFs-RGD (+) group completely disappeared. (B) Statistical analysis of tumor weight at 12 dpt (ANOVA; **P<0.01, ***P<0.001). (C) Images of HE staining of the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney. “(+)” and “(−)” represent samples with or without laser irradiation at 655 nm, respectively. Scale bar in (C): 50 μm.

Acknowledgments
This image is the copyrighted work of the attributed author or publisher, and ZFIN has permission only to display this image to its users. Additional permissions should be obtained from the applicable author or publisher of the image. Full text @ Int. J. Nanomedicine