Fig. 8: Evaluation of Mn@CCs preferentially target the microscopic and dispersive hepatocellular carcinomas in an orthotopic mouse model.

a, b In vivo axial MR images of HepG2-bearing mice at different timepoints after intravenous administration of Mn@CCs (a) and Gd-DTPA (b). c, d Quantification of MRI signals in hepatoma at different timepoints of Mn@CCs (c) and Gd-DTPA (d) in a and b (n = 3 biologically independent animals). All the statistical data are expressed as mean values ± SD. Significant difference compared with control. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001. Statistical significance was assessed via unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. e Comparison of Mn@CCs and Gd-DTPA to image ability of microscopic hepatoma (n = 3 biologically independent animals). All the statistical data are expressed as mean values ± SD. *Significant difference Mn@CCs compared with Gd-DTPA: 30 min (p = 0.029), 1 h (p = 0.023), 2 h (p = 0.003), 4 h (p = 0.044), 8 h (p = 0.021), respectively. *P < 0.05. Statistical significance was assessed via an unpaired two-tailed t-test. f, g In vivo coronal MR images of HepG2-bearing mice at different timepoints after intravenous administration of Mn@CCs and Gd-DTPA. h, i Quantification of MRI signals in hepatoma at different timepoints of Mn@CCs (h) and Gd-DTPA (i) in f and g (n = 3 biologically independent animals). Significant difference compared with control. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001. Statistical significance was assessed via unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. j Comparison of Mn@CCs and Gd-DTPA to image ability of microscopic hepatoma (n = 3 biologically independent animals). *Significant difference compared with Mn@CCs and Gd-DTPA: 30 min (p < 0.001), 1 h (p < 0.001), 4 h (p = 0.028), respectively. *P < 0.05. Statistical significance was assessed via an unpaired two-tailed t-test. k H&E staining of orthotopic hepatic tissue slides from nude mice. Experiments were repeated three times.