Fig. 3

NSC biodistribution within the IP cavity. a, b ICP-MS quantification of NSC tumor tropism efficiency within immunodeficient (nude/OVCAR8) and immunocompetent (B6/ID8) mice. a The absolute number of NSCs localized to individual macroscopic tumors was determined based on a measurement of 5 pg AuNR/NSC. Data from nude mice represent n = 4 mice, 113 tumors for the NSC group, and n = 2 mice, 49 tumors for the PBS group. Data from the B6 mice represent n = 5 mice, 169 tumors for the NSC group, and n = 2 mice, 28 tumors for the PBS group. b Localization of NSC.AuNRs in tumors associated with specific organs, expressed as a percentage of the total number of tumor-associated NSCs. Each data point is the summed percentage present in each mouse analyzed in a. For the nude mice, data represents n = 4 mice (20 liver tumors, 29 mesentary tumors, 51 omental tumors, 12 lower fat tumors, no peritoneal tumors). For the B6 mice, data represents n = 5 mice (18 liver tumors, 39 mesentary tumors, 65 omental tumors, 25 lower fat tumors, 14 peritoneal tumors). c–e Distribution of IP-administered NSCs in the tumor parenchyma and peritumoral stroma. c Representative fluorescence microscopy image of an ovarian tumor nodule (green) and surrounding NSCs (red). d Flattened (top-down) 3D rendering of the distribution of NSCs throughout a single tumor nodule in c. e Photographs representative of tumors found on all organs demonstrating the presence of visibly black tumor-associated NSC.AuNRs localized to peritumoral stroma, 24 h after injection into OVCAR8 tumor-bearing nude mice