ABSTRACT
Subcutaneously injected liposomes are drained rapidly into the initial lymphatic system through patent junctions in the lymphatic capillaries (Fig. 1) and are conveyed to the regional lymph nodes via the afferent lymph (1). In the lymph node, macrophages of medullary sinuses and paracortex are mainly responsible for liposome capture (1-4). Littoral cells and polymorphonuclear granulocytes may also participate in liposome extraction from the lymph (2). The above-mentioned means of liposome transportation from interstitium and sequestration by lymph node scavengers can be taken into experimental and clinical advantage. The potential medical applications, therefore, include lymphoscintigraphic tracing, lymph node mapping, treatmentofmacrophage infections, antigendelivery tomacrophages anddendritic cells, and treatment or prevention of tumour metastases (1,5,6).
