Fig. 3

Extended circulation time, inactive tumor targeting, and photothermal heating of passively targeted PEG-NRs in tumor-bearing mice. a Three mice carrying MDA-MB-435 tumors, 20 mg/kg PEG-NRs were i.v injected and blood was removed over time to control the clearance of PEG-NRs from circulation. b Biodistribution by PEG-NR at 72 h after i.v. administration, quantified via ICP-MSS (n 5 3). M, muscle; H, heart; Lu, lung; K, kidney; Li, liver; SP, spleen; T, tumor; Br, brain; Bl, bladder. c Saline or PEGNRs is i.v. injected (20 mg/kg) into mice carrying tumors of MDA-MB-435 on opposite flanks. The right flank was irradiated after 72 h with an 810-nm laser diode (2 W/cm²; beam size indicated by the dotted circle). d Thermographic surveillance of photothermal heating in PEG-NR-received (top) and saline-received (bottom) mice (von Maltzahn et al. 2009; reprinted with permission from American Association for Cancer Research)