Fig. 7

Schematic illustration of (a) the synthesis procedure of LFC-Meta-NPs and LFC-Sora-NPs, and (b) the mechanism by which combinational therapy of sorafenib with metapristone co-delivered by CXCR4-targeted PLGA-PEG NPs triggers synergistic anti-tumor effect on HCC. The decline of CXCR4 expression by metapristone and the blockade of CXCR4 function by LFC131 both greatly rescued the up-regulation and activation of SDF-1/CXCR4 upon prolonged sorafenib treatment, resulting in enhanced therapeutic effect of sorafenib and relief of potential resistance to sorafenib