Fig. 7.

Characteristics and antitumor effects of PAE-siRNA complex in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. A Synthesis protocol and B appearance of positively charged PAEs nanoparticles. C Particle size of the PAEs and PAE-siRNA. D Zeta potential of the PAEs and PAE-siRNA. E TEM images of PAEs and PAE-siRNA. F Scheme of the establishment of PDX tumor model. Patient-derived primary liver tumors (P1) were cut into fragments with sizes of 3*3*3 mm and transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the Balb/c nude mice (P2). Then, tumor tissues of P2 were retransplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of the Balb/c nude mice (P3) using the same method. G Schematic illustration of PDX model establishment and treatment. H Biodistribution of PAE-siRNA complex in vivo. I Biodistribution of different Cy5-siRNA injections (n = 3) on major organs and tumors by ex vivo imaging after 24 h of treatment. *p < 0.05. J Representative images of the PDX tumors and tumor weight. Scale bar is 1 cm. **p < 0.01. K Representative images (left) and quantification (right) of H&E staining (top) and immunofluorescence (bottom) of ATG16L1. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. Scale bars are 50 µm