clodronate liposomes

Clodronate liposomes are lipid vesicles encapsulating the bisphosphonate drug clodronate. This formulation is designed for targeted depletion of phagocytic cells, primarily macrophages and monocytes, by exploiting their natural tendency to engulf foreign particles. Once internalized via phagocytosis, the liposomal membrane is degraded within lysosomes, releasing clodronate into the cytosol. The released clodronate disrupts essential metabolic pathways in these cells, leading to apoptosis and functional suppression[1][3][4][5]. Clodronate itself is a non-nitrogenous bisphosphonate that cannot cross cell membranes unaided; encapsulation in liposomes enables its selective delivery to phagocytic immune cells[4][10]. This tool has been widely used in research settings to study immune cell function and disease mechanisms across autoimmunity (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), infections, transplantation biology, cancer (especially tumor-associated macrophages), neuroinflammation (targeting microglia), allergic diseases (such as allergic rhinitis), and tissue engineering[1][5][6]. While not an approved pharmaceutical for human therapy or marketed as a clinical drug product for any indication as of 2025, it remains a critical reagent in preclinical animal models.

Brand names

Clodrosome

Other names

dichloromethylene bisphosphonate liposomesclodronate-containing liposomes