Physicochemical Properties of Carriers for Targeting Lymphatic System

The lymphatic biology plays pivotal roles in human health due to overwhelming impacts of the lymphatic processes, mechanisms, regulations, and functions. It is, therefore, evidently interesting that researches have been dedicated to the exploration and exploitation of this unique vasculature for enhanced understanding of several pathologies and development of advanced medications and diagnostics. Evidences have described the benefits of applying novel drug carrier systems like solid lipid nanoparticles, nanomicelles, liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions, to promote efficient drug targeting to the lymphatic system. The success recorded is due to engineering of the physicochemical characteristics of the carrier systems using ligands and biomaterials which guarantee precise docking of the carrier molecule and release of the encapsulated drug in the lymphatic microenvironment. This chapter provides an overview of novel drug carrier systems and technologies that could be utilized for efficient particulate engineering and discusses the benefits and limitations of lymphatic drug targeting.