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Published on: February 5, 2019
Why nanoparticles prefer liver macrophage cell uptake in vivo
Wayne Ngo1, Sara Ahmed2, Colin Blackadar1
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada.
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.
