Fig. 5

In vivo biodistribution of CD38pep- and CD138pep-targeted nanoparticles loaded with a NIR dye. Nanoparticles targeted with CD38pep or CD138pep were prepared loaded with the NIR dye DiD, and their in vivo biodistribution was tested in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model of myeloma. Mice were injected with H929 cells and tumors allowed to grow to a predetermined size before IV injection of nanoparticle formulations; 24 h after nanoparticle injection, the mice were killed, and the tumor and major organs were imaged (a, b). Tumors were digested, and uptake of the nanoparticles by the tumor cells was measured via flow cytometry (c). n ≥ 5 for all groups. Data represent means (± s.e.). Statistical significance represents comparison to nontargeted liposomes, *p ≤ 0.05, **p ≤ 0.005