An Overview on Macrophage Targeting: A Promising Approach

Macrophages are immuno cells with high flexibility among hematopoietic system. Macrophages are tangled with many diseases like chronic inflammatory, atherosclerosis, autoimmune, and cancer. Macrophages play a major role in developing the inflammation and meanwhile resolving the damage occurred during these disease conditions. Therefore, the use of macrophages in targeted drug delivery appeared to be a promising approach in modifying the microenvironment of inflammatory diseases. The macrophages with cellular backpacks loaded with drugs were appeared to be the effective drug transporter to the brain inflammation. Till date, among the different carrier systems emerged among macrophage targeting: liposomes, microspheres, nanoparticles, and dendrimers were extensively studied. The physicochemical properties like components, lipophilicity, hydrophilicity, ligand presence, and concentration of these carriers may vary the efficacy and specificity of drug targeting to macrophages. The present review provides an insight into M1 and M2 macrophages characteristics, mainly discussed the role of macrophages in regulating several inflammatory diseases. This article underlines the current status and application of different carriers for targeted drug delivery to macrophages along with their efficacy and specificity. In general, the targeted drug delivery was achieved using the carrier systems by removing the intrinsic pathway and bio protection which is offered to the therapeutic molecules. Further, the review also summarizes the newer approaches for macrophage targeting with a brief overview on recent advances and future prospects.