Why do lipid nanoparticles target the liver? Understanding of biodistribution and liver-specific tropism

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are now highly effective transporters of nucleic acids to the liver. This liver-specificity is largely due to their association with certain serum proteins, most notably apolipoprotein E (ApoE), which directs them to liver cells by binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors on hepatocytes. The liver's distinct anatomy, with its various specialized cell types, also influences how LNPs are taken up from the circulation, cleared, and how effective they are in delivering treatments. In this review, we consider factors that facilitate LNP's effective liver targeting and explore the latest advances in liver-targeted LNP technologies. Understanding how LNPs are targeted to the…

• UO
  University of South Australia