Figure 4.

In vivo antitumor activity and inhibition of M2 macrophage polarization by PEG-AuNPs. (A) Tumor growth curves. Hepa1-6 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into the right flank of male BALB/c mice with or without 20 nm PEG-AuNPs, and the tumor growth was monitored for 21 days. (B) The gross images of excised tumors from the mice at the endpoint. (C) Tumor weight at the endpoint. (D) Representative immunofluorescence staining of CD206⁺ and F4/80⁺ macrophages in tumor tissues on Days seven and 14 after implantation. Scale bar = 200 μm. (E) CD206⁺/F4/80⁺ macrophages were analyzed using flow cytometry in tumor tissues on Days seven and 14 after implantation. (F) The mRNA levels of genes (M2 phenotype) measured using RT-qPCR in tumors on Days seven and 14 after implantation in mice. Data are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, ∗∗∗P < 0.001.