Modulating macrophage efferocytosis: Drug delivery strategies for enhancement, mimicry, and inhibition.
- 1Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Abstract
Efferocytosis, the non-inflammatory clearance of apoptotic cells, is essential for tissue homeostasis and inflammation resolution. Efferocytosis has different effects in the context of different diseases, providing a compelling therapeutic target. Impaired efferocytosis is linked to the progression of cardiovascular, autoimmune, and neurological disorders, whereas in tumors, efferocytosis often facilitates immunosuppression and metastasis. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in drug delivery systems (DDSs) designed for the modulation of macrophage efferocytosis. We first introduce the mechanisms of efferocytosis and its pathophysiological roles across diseases. Next, we thoroughly review DDSs designed to enhance, mimic, or inhibit efferocytosis, with a particular focus on various targeting methods to achieve precise efferocytosis modulation. Finally, we discuss translational challenges and propose future perspectives for efferocytosis-targeting therapies. This work aims to provide a foundational reference for the rational design of efferocytosis-modulating delivery systems and to underscore their therapeutic potential in a range of diseases.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026modulating,
title = {{Modulating macrophage efferocytosis: Drug delivery strategies for enhancement, mimicry, and inhibition.}},
author = {Zhihua Liu and Jiahui Wu and Jiayan Lyu and Zhou Zhou and Yuan Huang},
journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1016/j.apsb.2026.07.051},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948698},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modulating macrophage efferocytosis: Drug delivery strategies for enhancement, mimicry, and inhibition.
AU - Zhihua Liu
AU - Jiahui Wu
AU - Jiayan Lyu
AU - Zhou Zhou
AU - Yuan Huang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B
DO - 10.1016/j.apsb.2026.07.051
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948698
AB - Efferocytosis, the non-inflammatory clearance of apoptotic cells, is essential for tissue homeostasis and inflammation resolution. Efferocytosis has different effects in the context of different diseases, providing a compelling therapeutic target. Impaired efferocytosis is linked to the progression of cardiovascular, autoimmune, and neurological disorders, whereas in tumors, efferocytosis often facilitates immunosuppression and metastasis. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in drug delivery systems (DDSs) designed for the modulation of macrophage efferocytosis. We first introduce the mechanisms of efferocytosis and its pathophysiological roles across diseases. Next, we thoroughly review DDSs designed to enhance, mimic, or inhibit efferocytosis, with a particular focus on various targeting methods to achieve precise efferocytosis modulation. Finally, we discuss translational challenges and propose future perspectives for efferocytosis-targeting therapies. This work aims to provide a foundational reference for the rational design of efferocytosis-modulating delivery systems and to underscore their therapeutic potential in a range of diseases.
SN - 2211-3835
SN - 2211-3843
ER -