Why nanoparticles prefer liver macrophage cell uptake in vivo

Abstract

Effective delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic nanoparticles is dependent on their ability to accumulate in diseased tissues. However, most nanoparticles end up in liver macrophages regardless of nanoparticle design after administration. In this review, we describe the interactions of liver macrophages with nanoparticles. Liver macrophages have significant advantages in interacting with circulating nanoparticles over most target cells and tissues in the body. We describe these advantages in this article. Understanding these advantages will enable the development of strategies to overcome liver macrophages and deliver nanoparticles to targeted diseased tissues effectively. Ultimately, these approaches will increase the therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic signal of nanoparticles.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Liver; Macrophages; Mononuclear-phagocyte system; Nanoparticles.