Figure 2. Immune responses after PLGA-ICG-R837-based PTT.

(a) IR thermal images of 4T1-tumour-bearing mice injected with PLGA-ICG-R837, PLGA-ICG or PBS under the 808 nm laser (0.5 W cm⁻²) irradiation. (b) The tumour temperature changes based on IR thermal imaging date in a. (c–h) DC maturation induced by PLGA-ICG-R837-based PTT on mice-bearing 4T1 tumours (gated on CD11c+ DC cells). Cells in the tumour-draining lymph nodes were collected 72 h after various treatments for assessment by flow cytometry after staining with CD11c, CD80 and CD86. (i–k) Cytokine levels in sera from mice isolated at 24, 72 and 168 h post different treatments (surgery, surgery and s.c. injection of PLGA-ICG-R837, i.t. injection of PLGA-ICG-R837 and PTT). Three mice were measured in each group in (a–k). Data are presented as the mean±s.e.m. P values were calculated by Tukey's post-hoc test (***P<0.001, **P<0.01 or *P<0.05). For (i–k), P values were determined between the second group (Surgery+PLGA-ICG-R837) and the third group (PLGA-ICG-R837+laser).