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Nanoparticulate Systems for Controlling Monocyte/Macrophage Behavior
Book chapter

Nanoparticulate Systems for Controlling Monocyte/Macrophage Behavior

Amanda E. Pentecost, Emily B. Lurier and Kara L. Spiller
Microscale Technologies for Cell Engineering
19 Aug 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20726-1_14

Abstract

Inflammation Macrophages Nanoparticles Targeted delivery Theranostics
Macrophages are innate immune cells necessary for the repair and regeneration of injured tissues. Macrophages, which are derived from circulating monocytes, have unique roles as “professional” phagocytic cells that are involved in the removal of pathogens, apoptotic cells, cellular debris and foreign particles. Thus, nanoparticles (NPs) are readily taken up by macrophages in vivo following systemic administration, making NPs an attractive strategy to specifically target macrophage behavior. For example, bisphosphonate NPs are used to target bone macrophages, osteoclasts, for treatment of osteoporosis. NP uptake efficiency and biodistribution can be tuned by altering their physical properties such as hydrophobicity, surface charge, and particle geometry. Macrophages can engulf NPs selectively, through receptor-mediated endocytosis, or non-selectively, through macropinocytosis or phagocytosis. NPs can also be designed to have dual functions as both a diagnostic tool and a therapeutic, also known as theranostic, allowing simultaneous tracking and treatment. Recently, it was discovered that macrophages have the ability to switch from a pro-inflammatory (M1) to an anti-inflammatory/pro-healing (M2) phenotype. Future strategies should focus on exploiting this phenotypic switch by actively target macrophages in order to promote healing and tissue regeneration. Thus, NPs represent a class of biomaterials that can be used to actively target macrophages to control cellular behavior in vivo.

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