Why is Understanding Phagocytosis Important for Nanotechnology?
The ability of cells to recognize and engulf nanoparticles can have profound implications for both the efficacy and safety of nanotechnology-based therapies. For instance, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems must be designed to evade phagocytosis to ensure that they reach their target tissues. Conversely, in some applications, such as cancer therapy, nanoparticles can be engineered to be readily taken up by macrophages to deliver therapeutic agents directly to the tumor microenvironment.
