Innovations in lymph node targeting nanocarriers

• Authors: Jihoon Kim, Georgia Institute of Technology; Paul A Archer, Georgia Institute of Technology; Susan N Thomas, Emory University
• Journal Title: SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY
• Volume: Volume 56
• Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | 2021-08-01, Pages 101534-101534
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2021.101534
• Subjects: Engineering, Biomedical
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Immunology; Nanotechnology; Nanoparticle; Lymph node drug delivery; Targeted delivery; Controlled release; SUBCAPSULAR SINUS MACROPHAGES; ANTIGEN-PRESENTING CELLS; POLY(PROPYLENE SULFIDE) NANOPARTICLES; SYNTHETIC VACCINE NANOPARTICLES; IRON-OXIDE NANOPARTICLES; HIGH ENDOTHELIAL VENULES; DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEMS; NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS; IN-VIVO; DENDRITIC CELLS

Abstract

Lymph nodes are secondary lymphoid tissues in the body that facilitate the co-mingling of immune cells to enable and regulate the adaptive immune response. They are also tissues implicated in a variety of diseases, including but not limited to malignancy. The ability to access lymph nodes is thus attractive for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. As nanotechnologies are now well established for their potential in translational biomedical applications, their high relevance to applications that involve lymph nodes is highlighted. Herein, established paradigms of nanocarrier design to enable delivery to lymph nodes are discussed, considering the unique lymph node tissue structure as well as lymphatic system physiology. The influence of delivery mechanism on how nanocarrier systems distribute to different compartments and cells that reside within lymph nodes is also elaborated. Finally, current advanced nanoparticle technologies that have been developed to enable lymph node delivery are discussed.