Monosialoganglioside liposome-entrapped enzyme uptake by hepatic cells

Monosialoganglioside liposomes are rapidly taken up by the liver as compared to dicetylphosphate, phosphatidic acid or neutral liposomes. Asialoganglioside GM 1 liposomes are taken up with the same avidity as ganglioside GM 1 liposomes. Competition experiments with asialofetuin suggest that this uptake is mediated by specific recognition of the terminal galactose residues of the glyco-lipid liposomes by the receptor present on the plasma membrane of the parenchymal cells of liver. Thus liposomes containing glycolipids with terminal beta-galactosyl residues should provide an approach for specifically directing biologically active molecules to liver parenchymal cells.