In vivo combined cancer therapeutic effect of AM-based NSs. Group 1: saline; Group 2: DOX; Group 3: AM-PEG/DOX NSs; Group 4: AM-PEG NSs + NIR; and Group 5: AM-PEG/DOX NSs + NIR. NIR laser irradiation was performed in Groups 4 and 5 for 10 min (0.8 W cm−2, 808 nm) after 12 h of i.v. injection ([AM] = 6 mg kg−1,[DOX] = 6 mg kg−1). a) Infrared thermographic maps and b) time-dependent temperature changes in the MCF-7-tumor-bearing nude mice after different treatments. c) Growth curves of MCF-7-tumor-bearing nude mice after different treatments (*P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001). d) Digital photo of representative tumors in different groups after 14 d treatment. e) H&E-stained histological images of tissue sections from major organs (heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney) at 1, 7, and 14 d post-injection with different treatments.