Liver-specific drug delivery platforms: Applications for the treatment of alcohol-associated liver disease

Table 1 Summary of liver-specific drug delivery platforms, including molecular composition, potential modifications, benefits, and limitations

Platform	Composition	Origin	Benefits	Limitations
Lipid-based
Liposomes	Lipids	Synthetic	Non-immunogenic, non-toxic, modifiable	High clearance by liver/spleen RES
Exosomes	Lipids	Biological	Endogenous cargo (proteins, nucleic acids, etc.), but can add additional cargo	Non-standardized isolation methods, potentially immunogenic
Micelles	Lipids	Biological	Non-immunogenic, non-toxic, modifiable	High clearance by liver/spleen RES
Non-lipid-based
Polymeric nanoparticles	Polymers	Synthetic	Modifiable, capable of controlled drug release	High clearance by liver/spleen RES, potentially immunogenic
Metallic nanoparticles	Gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, iron, gadolinium, copper, rubidium, palladium, titanium	Synthetic	Modifiable, magnetic (iron), anti-microbial (copper, silver, titanium)	Non-biodegradable and potentially cytotoxic, immunogenic, or allergenic
Ceramic nanoparticles	Carbon, silicon with metallic or non-metallic core	Synthetic	Modifiable, resistant to pH change	Potentially cytotoxic or immunogenic, non-biodegradable or lowly biodegradable
Bacterial and viral
Bacteria	Bacterial cells	Biological	Self-propulsion, chemotaxis, on-site drug production, transfection	Immunogenicity, infection risk
Viral vectors	AAVs, HSVs	Biological	Active liver tropism	Immunogenicity, toxicity, neutralizing antibodies

RES: Reticuloendothelial system; AAV: Adeno-associated virus; HSV: Herpes simplex virus.