Abdominal adipose tissue distribution of AuNPs following intraperitoneal injection into mice.

<p>Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of abdominal adipose tissue in (A) control mouse and (B) AuNP-injected mouse at 24 h (Mag 2.01K x). (C, D) Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) images of abdominal adipose tissue at 24 h. (C) displaying the carbon present throughout the tissue sample, of medium to low signal intensity, (D) displays the gold present throughout the tissue sample, concentrated around the periphery of a portion of tissue within the section, of medium to high intensity. The strength of the signal transmitted for a selected element is represented by a corresponding colour, blue signifying the lowest signal strength and red the highest.