Beyond Trial and Error: A Systematic Development of Liposomes Targeting Primary Macrophages

Monocytes/macrophages are phagocytic innate immune cells playing a pivotal role in tissue homeostasis, inflammation, and antitumor immunity microenvironment-dependent manner. By expressing pattern recognition scavenger receptors on their surface, macrophages selectively take up pathogens, cellular debris, often—undesirably—drug delivery systems. On the other hand, propensity of to internalize particulate drug carriers is used load them with cargo choice, turning monocytes/macrophages into diagnostic or therapeutic Trojan horse. Identifying ideal physicochemical properties such as liposomes achieve most efficient macrophage-mediated has been object extensive research past, but studies reported so far rely solely trial-and-error approaches. Herein, design experiment (DoE) strategy identify optimal liposomal formulation proposed, fully characterized terms size, surface charge, membrane fluidity, maximize macrophage targeting. The findings validated using mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, primary preparation modeling vivo monocyte-derived thus confirming robustness versatility systematic iterative approach suggesting promising potential DoE for cell-targeting