Figure 1.

Micelle formulation and study setup. A) Polymeric micelles were physically stabilized by Π‐Π stacking and paclitaxel (PTX) was entrapped in the hydrophobic core with the assistance of Π‐Π stacking to form therapeutic micelles. Cy7 was covalently conjugated in the hydrophobic core of the micelles to provide theranostic micelles. B–D) Characterization of theranostic micelles using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorometer for their size and absorbance and emission spectra. E) Treatment and imaging protocol: 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice were injected i.v. twice weekly for 3 weeks, alternating therapeutic, and theranostic micelles. Mice were longitudinally monitored via hybrid CT‐FMT imaging on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17 to evaluate the dynamics of the EPR effect during the course of nanotaxane therapy.