Fig. 6: Anti-tumor efficacy of NIR-activatable ARNGs@TMZ/ICG against orthotopic GBM.

a Schematic illustration of the timeline of the anti-tumor efficacy studies on orthotopic GBM bearing mice. U87MG-Luc cells were orthotopically inoculated into the brains of 6–8 weeks nude mice. On Day 10 after the tumor inoculation, mice with a similar bioluminescence intensity were selected and randomized into 7 groups (n = 5). Various formulations were intravenously injected at a dose of 10 mg TMZ equiv. kg⁻¹ and 10 mg ICG equiv. kg⁻¹ on Day 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 post-tumor implantation. b In vivo bioluminescence images of orthotopic GBM in live mice receiving different treatments. c Quantified tumor bioluminescence levels of orthotopic GBM in each group (n = 5 biologically independent samples). Data are presented as mean ± SD (one-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparisons tests). d Body-weight changes in mice (n = 5 biologically independent samples). Data are presented as mean ± SD. e Kaplan–Meier analysis of the mice (n = 5 biologically independent samples). One-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparisons tests. f H&E-staining images of the orthotopic brain tumor tissues excised from the mice in each group. g TUNEL-staining images of the orthotopic brain tumor tissues excised from the mice in each group. Scale bars: 100 μm.