Pulmonary drug delivery macrophage

Pulmonary drug delivery is also applicable using liposomes, because they are absorbed through the thin layer of alveolar epithelial cells (vast surface for an adult is 43-102 m ) (12-14) and transported into the systemic circulation (15-17). However, the inhaled objects can be eliminated by macrophages from the alveoli surface when they are bigger than 260 nm (18). 

Gillespie MN, Aziz SM, Pauly TH. Pulmonary intravascular macrophages cellular targets of opportunity for inhaled drugs. In Proceeds of the Second International Conference on Respiratory Drug Delivery (in press). 

---