Targeting of therapeutics to the liver: liposomes and viral vectors.

A successful strategy for the treatment of hepatic damage should be based on the use of nontoxic drugs with a high therapeutic index and safety profile, as well as selective targeting delivery. To achieve these goals, several biological and synthetic vehicles have been formulated with a wide range of chemical and physical properties. These vectors allow the delivery of either traditional drugs or genetic material to the cells. Despite remarkable progress, the design of an ideal carrier is still to be accomplished. Safety issues concerning viral vectors and low efficiency of synthetic delivery systems are the main limitations of present vectors. Once these problems are overcome, the liver-specific targeting systems will provide new opportunities to treat a vast range of hepatic diseases.