Bone-Derived MCF-7-5624A Tumor Xenograft Model

Bone-derived MCF-7-5624A cells were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% penicillin/streptomycin^{7 (link)}. The authenticity of the animal-derived line to the parental line was tested using the cell line authentication services using Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling (ATCC, VA). MCF-7-5624A tumor cells were injected into the left cardiac ventricle (5 × 10⁵ cells) in 3–4 week old homozygous female athymic nude mice (Taconic, Hudson, NY) supplemented with low-dose estrogen pellets (0.18 mg; Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, FL) that deliver 2 μg/day of 17β estradiol. Tumor progression and size was monitored through BLI and MRI. Mice received weekly injections of ReANCs or fReANCs functionalized with 12.5 μM AMD3100 at 10 mg/kg body weight and were imaged immediately post injection and up to 24 hours post administration. SWIR signal from the leg bones and the dorsal area corresponding to the location of the adrenal glands was quantified. Animals were sacrificed upon weight loss and organs were excised. Tumor volume was calculated using 3D reconstructions generated from MRI imaging.