Figure 7.

PCCL-aptamer improved the therapeutic efficacy of aptamer–CA4 conjugations on tumor-bearing mice. (A) Illustrating the application of the PCCL–aptamer–CA4 conjugation. (B) Cytotoxicity of free CA4, CA4–PEG₃–azide, Sgc8m–CA4 and PCCL–Sgc8m–CA4 on HCT116 cells and HEK293 cells. (C) Tumor growth curves of HCT116 tumor-bearing xenografted mice after receiving 6 times of injection of PCCL–Sgc8m–CA4, Sgc8m–CA4, CA4 and DPBS via tail vein. Arrows denoted the administration. (D) Weight statistics of tumors from the euthanized mice after a 22-day treatment period. (E) Images of tumor from the euthanized mice after a 22-day treatment period. (F) H&E staining images and (G) TUNEL staining images of tumor sections from different mice groups. Scale bar for H&E staining: 20 μm, and scale bar for TUNEL staining: 100 μm. Blue, DAPI. Green, TUNEL. ***P < 0.001, *P < 0.05, ANOVA.