Alteration of liposome disposition in vivo by bilayer situated carbohydrates

The inclusion of either lactosylcerebroside or dimannosyldiglyceride at a 9% molar ratio in small unilamellar vesicles increased by two-three fold the fraction of the I.V. dose that appeared in mouse liver. For lactosylcerebroside containing liposomes, the half-time for clearance from plasma was 1.2 hours compared to 5.5 hours for liposomes of similar size, charge, and composition but lacking the glycolipid. Uptake of the lactosylcerebroside containing liposomes by the liver could be significantly reduced but not eliminated by the simultaneous injection of asialoorosomucid.