Monosialoganglioside liposome-entrapped enzyme uptake by hepatic cells

Abstract

Monosialogangliosde liposomes are rapidly taken up by the liver as compared to dicetylphosphate, phosphatidic acid or neutral liposomes. Asialoganglioside G_M1 liposomes are taken up with the same avidity as ganglioside G_M1 liposomes. Competition experiments with asialofetuin suggest that this uptake is mediated by specific recognition of the terminal galactose residues of the glycolipid liposomes by the receptor present on the plasma membrane of the parenchymal cells of liver. Thus liposomes containing glycolipids with terminal β-galactosyl residues should provide an approach for specifically directing biologically active molecules to liver parenchymal cells.