FIGURE 9.

IR800-labeled decorin protein core targets specifically the human tumor xenografts. A, preinjection scan (white channel), B–D, lateral side scans using pseudocolor intensity map of the same tumor-bearing mouse at various times post-injection, as indicated. The tumor is circled in white. About 100 μg of IR800-labeled decorin protein core was injected via the tail vein. E, ventral view showing liver at 68 h post-injection. F, dorsal view showing kidneys and tumor as indicated at 22 h post-injection. G, isolated organs after 68 h. Bar, 10 mm. H, an example of an isolated tumor xenograft after 68 h of IR800-decorin injection. I, detection of IR800-labeled decorin in kidney and tumor xenograft lysates. Lane 1, Coomassie Blue-prestained protein standards (note that using the infrared detection system the Coomassie Blue-prestained proteins appear as red); lanes 2–6, increasing concentrations of purified IR800-decorin protein core (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ng, respectively); lane 7, kidney lysate at 68 h (calculated to correspond to ∼1.4 ng/mg wet weight); lane 8, tumor lysate at 68 h (calculated to correspond to ∼0.64 ng/mg wet weight). SCID mice were subcutaneously injected with 2 × 10⁶ HeLa cells into the upper left dorsal areas, and tumor xenografts were allowed to establish for ∼3 weeks.