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.

Keywords:

• lymphatic targeting
• colloids
• PEGylation
• phagocytosis

Introduction

The lymphatic system (lymphatics), which encompasses the circulating lymph, network of lymphatic pathways (lymphatic capillaries, collecting vessels, trunks, and ducts), and lymphatic organs (lymph nodes, thymus, bone marrow, tonsils, spleen, etc) is present throughout the body in conjunction with the systemic circulation. The lymph is formed by the transport of interstitial fluid surrounding the blood vessels into the lymphatic capillaries. Thus, the lipids, enzymes, and protein composition of lymph and plasma remain the same and vary only in concentrations.^1,2 The lymphatic system removes foreign bodies from the body and maintains homeostasis. Apart from mediating the immune functions and tissue fluid balance, the lymphatics also act as a reservoir for human immunodeficiency virus, filariasis, tuberculosis, and metastatic cancer cells.³ Hence, lymphatic targeting of molecules, compounds, vaccines, and so on will be useful for diagnosis and therapy and eliciting immune responses. Colloids have emerged as an important class of drug carriers for targeted delivery into the complex lymphatic system.⁴ Targeting colloids to the lymphatics involves two major steps: first, the targeting material should reach the lymphatic structures and then it should reside there for a considerable period of time by evading the host immune trafficking mechanisms. A plethora of articles on lymphatic targeting using colloids suggests that several parameters such as surface charge, particle size, molecular weight, route of administration, nature of the colloid and its surface properties (hydrophilicity and lipophilicity), and so on play a role in targeting colloids to the lymphatics, and a discussion on each of those factors is out of focus of this perspective as it would be a mere repetition of the already established facts. However, the role of phagocytosis and polyethylene glycol (PEG) attachment to colloids (PEGylation) on lymphatic targeting is not clear. Logically, phagocytosis (an innate protective mechanism through which the body disposes all the antigens including colloids) and PEGylation (a strategy that imparts covertness with respect to phagocytosis) are two contrasting strategies, which cannot go hand in hand. Since the earlier issues have so far not been brought into the light, we intend to discuss for the first time those conflicting theories to derive a universal strategy for lymphatic targeting in this article.

Charge: a driving force?

Oussoren and Storm⁵ reported that surface charge of colloids does not play a role in lymphatic targeting. Nevertheless, many other studies have shown that particle surface charge is indeed an important factor for lymphatic delivery of colloids.^6–9 These studies argue that due to the repulsive drive exerted by the negatively charged interstitial matrix, negatively charged substances possess better lymphatic uptake than positive and neutral substances. Patel et al⁹ found that negatively charged colloidal particles had superior lymphatic uptake efficiency compared with positively charged particles, which in turn performed better than those with a neutral charge. In contrast, a few reports have stated that neutrally charged particles could more quickly enter the regional lymphatics after administration, whereas positively charged particles were better in terms of final uptake.^10–12 A rapid clearance of negatively charged colloids when compared to neutral colloids has also been reported.¹³ Although the emerging depiction is that colloids can reach the lymphatics irrespective of their charge, their entry is possibly momentarily affected by factors such as the type of colloid used (eg, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and solid lipid nanoparticles), biopharmaceutical factors, pH, and net charge (due to ions) of the local interstitial fluid. But, the leads obtained relating to the host defense mechanisms that remove colloids from the body indicate that neutrally charged colloids hold an edge over positively or negatively charged colloids for lymphatic targeting.

Phagocytosis: a dead end for colloids

Phagocytosis is an important host immune defense mechanism performed by a kind of white blood cells known as macrophages. They are capable of scavenging both exogenous (viruses, bacteria, antigens, xenobiotics, nanoparticles, etc) and endogenous (free radicals, apoptotic and necrotic bodies, etc) danger signals from the body by a membrane-engulfing, energy-consuming process called phagocytosis. The danger signals destined for phagocytosis are first marked with proteins called opsonins in a process termed opsonization. Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgD, etc), complement proteins (C3, C4, and C5), C-reactive protein, and so on are some of the opsonins that are adsorbed to the foreign bodies by Brownian motion and thereby mark them for phagocytosis.¹⁴ Finally, the phagocytosed material will be enzymatically broken down and removed from the body. Several researchers have attempted to exploit this natural mechanism to target lymphatics via attaching ligands to the colloids, as these ligands have the capacity to adsorb opsonins and prime the colloids for uptake by the macrophages. For example, ligands such as mannose,⁸ galactose,¹⁵ IgG,¹⁶ and phosphatidylserine^17,18 have been attached to colloids in order to promote phagocytosis. The theory behind this approach is that colloids bearing these ligands will be engulfed by macrophages in the interstitial spaces and subsequently be delivered into the lymphatics. Although this concept sounds persuasive, actually these colloids will likely be digested and eliminated from the body at a faster rate by the macrophages at the lymphatics. Hence, despite reaching the target, drugs carried by such colloids will not be therapeutically useful. Thus, using ligands to function as bait for attracting the macrophages would serve no use and will only lead to the rapid clearance of colloids from the body. On the other hand, this principle might be of great value for targeting leishmanial parasites residing in the macrophages and for the delivery of vaccines to elicit an immune response.¹⁹ Since lymphatic uptake of colloids has been shown to occur under conditions where phagocytosis is blocked,^20,21 we conclude that phagocytosis might not play a role in lymphatic delivery of colloids.

PEGylation: gateway for lymphatic targeting

In sharp contrast to the earlier strategy, several researchers consider phagocytosis as an unfavorable phenomenon for the delivery of colloids into the lymphatic system. Hence, there were attempts to impart disguising properties to protect the colloids from phagocytosis. PEG is a nonionic surface-active polymer made of hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) and hydrophobic polypropylene oxide. Coating, attaching, or grafting of PEG polymer chains to a molecule or surface is called PEGylation. PEGylation imparts a stealth nature to the particles by forming a protective barricade against the adhesion of opsonins and thereby help them to evade phagocytosis.²² When opsonins adhere to the surface of PEGylated colloid, the confirmation of PEO units within PEG is disturbed, creating a force that resists opsonin adherence. As a result, a steric barrier is imparted to the colloid, which would enable the colloid to remain in the body for a longer time by evading phagocytosis. Furthermore, in addition to providing the hydrophilic surface required for lymphatic uptake, PEGylation also reduces the electrostatic interaction between the surface of the colloid and the components of the interstitial matrix by providing a neutral charge, which assists its drainage into the lymphatics. Thus, PEGylation has a positive impact not only in providing stealth attributes to colloids in blood^23–26 but also in facilitating their drainage from the site of injection to the lymphatics.

The lymphatic uptake and retention of PEGylated colloids depend on the steric barrier induced by the number of PEO units. Although an increase in the number of PEO units increases the steric barrier and lymphatic uptake, a negative correlation exists between the steric barrier and lymph node retention.²⁷ Hence, only a specific number of PEO units should be used for PEGylation to achieve good uptake into the lymphatics with increased residence time. Interestingly, inhibiting phagocytosis using dextran as an adjuvant increased both lymphatic uptake and residence time of PEGylated colloids.²¹ PEGylation can be applied in developing various nanoparticulate carriers like dendrimers,¹⁰ PRINT (particle replication in nonwetting templates) hydrogels,²⁸ magnetic carbon nanotubes with PEG groups,²⁹ solid lipid nanoparticles,³ polymeric nanoparticles,²⁴ liposomes,²⁵ and so on. Furthermore, a glance at a few of the promising nanopharmaceuticals in clinical use or undergoing trials like Oncaspar (PEGylated l-asperginase for acute lymphoblastic leukemia), Genexol (PEGylated block polymer containing an anticancer drug for metastatic breast cancer), and Lipo-dox and ThermoDox (PEGylated liposomal forms of doxorubicin) highlights the utility of PEGylation.^30–32

Size-dependent retention in lymphatics

Although PEGylation imparts stealth characteristics facilitating the evasion of phagocytosis, retention of colloids in the lymphatics is largely dependent on their size. For instance, colloids in the size range of 10−100 nm can freely move through the interendothelial spaces of lymphatic capillaries irrespective of PEGylation. Studies have revealed that although PEGylation improved lymphatic uptake, it reduced the retention time of colloids.^2,3,10,33 The authors hypothesized that the poor retention of the colloids in the lymph nodes is due to the smaller size and extreme hydrophilic nature of PEGylated colloids. These colloids probably escaped through the spaces present between the lymphatic capillary cells because of their smaller size. The environment in the lymphatics is not much different from the systemic circulation, and the colloids will be immersed in an environment containing several kinds of immune cells (lymphocytes, macrophages, monocytes, etc), which would also potentially act to eliminate them from the lymphatics. It is also possible that the PEG coating will be eroded from the colloids over a period of time, which might eventually allow the adhesion of opsonins on the particles marking them for phagocytosis and subsequent destruction. If they escape from these immune cells, the colloids will pass through the lymphatic capillaries and lymph nodes to reach the systemic circulation. Since the lymph nodes are acting as simple mechanical filters,² they can retain the colloids if the size is greater than100 nm. Hence, for extending the retention time of colloids in the lymphatics, their size should exceed this at the time of entry. On the other hand, to successfully evade phagocytosis in the lymphatics, the particle size should be less than100 nm. One possibility to achieve larger particle size in the lymphatics is to promote a mild cohesion among the particles. For example, a few neutrally charged particles in the range of 10−100 nm could possibly cohere to form a bigger particle due to the lack of surface attractive or repulsive forces. Theoretically, this concept sounds simple, but achieving this in vivo is confounded by the influence of several factors like lack of proper cohesion among sterically stabilized colloids, the microenvironment around the colloids, and physiological conditions of the lymphatics in diseased states, etc. Use of a nonionic stabilizer (possibly PEG) in the preparation of colloids might favor this mild cohesion, as anionic or cationic stabilizers exert a repulsive force among the colloids.

Seeds and leads from filarial worms for lymphatic targeting

Lymphatic filarial pathogenesis provides an insight into how the lymphatic system could be targeted by colloids.^3,33 In spite of the surrounding immune trafficking cells and oxidative free radicals, filarial worms survive in the lymphatics for several years. These worms contain a thick cuticle comprising an internal matrix of collagenous proteins, which allow them to survive in the face of various host immune reactions. Moreover, their morphology facilitates the worms’ survival in the lymphatics by protecting against macrophages and other immune cells. Worm-shaped colloidal particles were able to evade macrophages and extend the half-life of anticancer drugs in the body.^34–36 According to the authors, the short cylindrical conformation of the wormlike structures prevents the interaction with macrophages and even if the macrophages interact with the worms, they are dragged off from the worm’s surface due to the hydrodynamic shear exerted by the flow of blood. In addition, these worms secrete glutathione-S-transferases to counteract the oxidative free radicals produced by the host.³⁷ Further studies on lymphatic targeting using glutathione-S-transferases will reveal whether it might prove helpful in extending the occupancy time of colloids in lymphatics.

Conclusion

We have analyzed the contrasting reports about surface charge of particles, effect of PEGylation, and usage of phagocytosis for lymphatic targeting and residence. On the basis of this analysis, we predict that neutrally charged colloids, preferably PEGylated, with a size less than100 nm will be efficiently taken up by the lymphatics (Table 1). We also refute the concept that promotion of phagocytosis by means of ligand-decorated colloids is a useful strategy for lymphatic targeting (Figure 1). Promoting mild cohesion among colloids in the lymphatics to form larger particles would possibly increase the retention of colloids. Research focused on worm-shaped nanoparticles and the use of glutathione-S-transferases could provide further insights in the field of lymphatic targeting.

Table 1 Snapshot of the effect of various properties of colloidal particles on lymphatic targeting

Property	Lymphatic uptake	Lymphatic retention
Size less than 100 nm	+	+
Neutral charge	+	+
PEGylation	+	+
Phagocytosis	+	−
Worm shape	*	++

Notes: +, promotes; ++, strongly promotes; −, does not promote; *insufficient data available.

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the kinetics of colloids in interstitial fluid.

Notes: × denotes does not occur. ? denotes the fate remains skeptical.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Acknowledgments

GF is supported by the EU FP7 BIOTALENT project (GA621321) and cofinanced by funds allocated for education through project number W26/7.PR/2015 [GA 3413/7. PR/2015/2] for the years 2015–2019.