Liposome targeting to mouse brain: mannose as a recognition marker.

Liposomes prepared from lecithin:cholesterol:p-aminophenyl-alpha-mannoside (7:2:1, v/v/v) were efficiently incorporated into the mouse brain across the blood brain barrier. Furthermore, liposomes injected intraperitoneally were exclusively distributed into lysosome rich fraction and also taken up by glial cells. These data suggest that blood brain barrier cells and glial cells recognize mannose molecule on the surface of the membrane and can be used for the treatment of brain damage by lysosomal storage disease.