Nanovesicle delivery to the liver via retinol binding protein and platelet-derived growth factor receptors: how targeting ligands affect biodistribution.

AIM: Nanovesicles (NVs) conjugating ligands can deliver to the specific nidus. We designed a nanosystem targeting the injectable niosomes to liver for examining biodistribution.

METHODOLOGY: Vitamin A and antiplatelet-derived growth factor receptor antibody were employed as the ligands to be taken by hepatic stellate cells. The biodistribution in rats was visualized by bioimaging.

RESULTS: A significant liver accumulation was detected for antibody-embedded NVs at 2 h after dosing. The vitamin A embedded NVs exhibited a delayed targeting to the liver (5 h). The spleen, intestine and kidneys were the nontargeted organs where the vitamin A loaded niosomes largely accumulated. The antibody-loaded NVs could deliver to the spleen, kidneys and lungs. The antibody-loaded nanocarriers increased silibinin uptake to lungs by fourfold than the plain NVs.

CONCLUSION: The results have practical application for better designing of active targeting nanocarriers.