Fig. 4: Image-guided biopsy for lymph node metastasis of breast cancer in nude mice via folic-AIEgen.

a Representative process of folic-AIEgen guided SLNs dissection in 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice (n = 3). b Images of the lymphatic vessels (red arrows) and SLNs (red arrowheads) under a handheld UV lamp (i-v), and white light (vi). i-Injection, ii-3 min after subcutaneous injection of folic-AIEgen (50 µL, 40 µg/mL) around the tumor, iii-Separation along the lymph vessel, iv-Exposure of the SLN, v-Dissection of the SLN. vi. 1 and 2 represent the sentinel LNs and adjacent LN, respectively. The inner picture was obtained in bright field (top) and UV irradiation (bottom). c Images were obtained by IVIS system, and the quantitative analysis of fluorescence signals was performed between SLNs and adjacent LNs. Data are means ± SD, n = 3, Student’s two-tailed t test, **P < 0.01. d Histological analysis of the LNs. Representative images of bright field and photoluminescence of frozen section at 488 nm excitation, and H&E staining of paraffin section. Scale bars = 100 μm. The experiment was repeated at least three times.