title: A brief perspective on the diverging theories of lymphatic targeting with colloids.
abstract: For targeted delivery of colloids to the lymphatic system, the colloids should efficiently reach and remain in the lymphatics for a considerable period of time. As per the current knowledge, diffusion and phagocytosis are the two mechanisms through which colloids reach the lymphatic system. Several parameters including particle size and charge have been shown to affect the direct uptake of colloids by the lymphatic system. Although many researchers attached ligands on the surface of colloids to promote phagocytosis-mediated lymphatic delivery, another school of thought suggests avoidance of phagocytosis by use of carriers like polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated colloids to impart stealth attributes and evade phagocytosis. In this perspective, we weigh up the paradoxical theories and approaches available in the literature to draw conclusions on the conditions favorable for achieving efficient lymphatic targeting of colloids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Siram
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marslin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Chellan Vijaya
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Krishnamoorthy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Habibur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Plant Biology, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003102:Colloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000187:drug effects; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: PEGylation; colloids; lymphatic targeting; phagocytosis