Nanoparticle delivery in vivo: A fresh look from intravital imaging

Nanomedicine has proven promising in preclinical studies. However, only few formulations have been successfully translated to clinical use. A thorough understanding of how nanoparticles interact with cells in vivo is essential to accelerate the clinical translation of nanomedicine. Intravital imaging is a crucial tool to reveal the mechanisms of nanoparticle transport in vivo, allowing for the development of new strategies for nanomaterial design. Here, we first review the most recent progress in using intravital imaging to answer fundamental questions about nanoparticle delivery in vivo. We then elaborate on how nanoparticles interact with different cell types and how such interactions determine the fate of nanoparticles in vivo. Lastly, we discuss ways in which the use of intravital imaging can be expanded in the future to facilitate the clinical translation of nanomedicine.