Fig. 3

Multi-Color Nanoprobe Targeting Validation in vivo. a Mice bearing subcutaneous 4175TR tumors received CAV1 targeted (Rh-fHoANC) and untargeted (Rh-HoANC) holmium-doped nanoprobes. Representative images of b Rh-HoANC and c Rh-fHoANC accumulation at 6-weeks post-inoculation. d SWIR signal intensities show brighter emissions from animals injected with targeted (n = 7) compared to untargeted (n = 5) nanoprobes. e Mice bearing subcutaneous MCF7 tumors received CXCR4 targeted (FITC-fErANC) and untargeted (FITC-ErANC) erbium-doped nanoprobes. Representative images of f FITC-ErANC and g FITC-fErANC accumulation. h SWIR signal intensities show brighter emissions from animals injected with targeted (n = 8) compared to untargeted (n = 5) nanoprobes. i Mice bearing subcutaneous SKOV3 tumors received folate receptor targeted (647-fTmANC) and untargeted (647-TmANC) thulium-doped nanoprobes. Representative images of j 647-TmANC and (k) 647-fTmANC accumulation. l SWIR signal intensities show brighter emissions from animals injected with targeted (n = 10) compared to untargeted (n = 6) nanoprobes. Bar graphs in panels d, h, and l represent the mean ± s.e.m. for each group. *p < 0.07, determined by a two-tailed Mann Whitney U-test; **p < 0.05 determined by Welch’s two-tailed t-test. Panels b, c, f, g, j, and k each present two representative animals from each experimental group