Fig. 1

AuNR-based monitoring of HB1.F3.CD21 NSC tropism to peritoneal metastases. a Schematic showing AuNR-loaded NSCs (NSC.AuNRs), which are visibly black at the bottom of the conical tube shown in the photograph. b Fluorescent and bioluminescent images confirming that DiR-labeled NSC.AuNRs (bottom panel) co-localize with ffluc-expressing tumors (top panel). Nude mice were inoculated with 2 × 10⁶ OVCAR8.eGFP.ffluc tumor cells, and NSC.AuNRs, dual-labeled with DiR to track their distribution, were injected 3 weeks later. Images were acquired 1 h after IP NSC.AuNR injection. c–e ICP-MS quantification of AuNR levels within IP metastases. c ICP-MS quantification of tumor-localized NSC.AuNRs in a titration experiment demonstrating the limits and linear dose-response relationship of NSC.AuNR detection within the IP cavity. 1e7 dose represents 5 mice (30 tumors); 1e6 doses represents 1 mouse (5 tumors); 1e5 dose represents 3 mice (16 tumors); 1e4 and PBS dose represents 3 mice (15 tumors). d AuNR quantification as a percentage of signal in the injected dose [%ID] of either free AuNRs or NSC.AuNRs at 1 and 24 h after injection. **p < 0.01. For the 1-h data series, all groups represent n = 4 mice; for the 24-h data series, the NSC only and free AuNR groups represent n = 4 mice, and the NSC-AuNR group represents n = 10 mice. e ICP-MS quantification of 1 × 10⁷ NSC.AuNRs total, administered over 24 h via one (QID), two (BID), or three (TID) injections. The PBS group represents 3 mice (12 tumors); QID represents 3 mice (14 tumors); BID represents 2 mice (12 tumors); TID represents 3 mice (15 tumors)