| Abstract Scope |
Macrophages are specialized cells involved in the detection, phagocytosis, and destruction of bacteria and other harmful organisms. However, in the presence of a tumor, the macrophages turn into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) that create an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by producing cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and triggering the inhibitory immune checkpoint proteins released in T cells. Ergo, it is critical to develope a drug delivery vehicle that can specifically target TAMs in TME and does not harm healthy cells. In this study, we developed a conjugate-ready DOPE:DOPC liposome vehicle that can deliver drugs specific cell types using different targets. This vehicle was modified to have a thiol (-SH) terminal group that can be readily used for click chemistry with an alkane or alkene. For proof of concept, we modified folic acid (FA) to have a terminal alkyne and used the alkyl-bound-FA to deliver doxorubicin to TAMs. |