Intercellular space

The intercellular space, also known as the interstitial space, is the physiological compartment located between the individual cells of a tissue. This space is filled with interstitial fluid, which serves as a medium for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products between the capillary blood and the cells (StatPearls, 2023). It also contains the extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex network of proteins and polysaccharides that provide structural integrity and biochemical signaling to tissues (Wikipedia, 2024). While the intercellular space is critical for drug distribution, it is not a specific therapeutic target molecule, such as a receptor or enzyme; instead, it is an anatomical region (NCBI: PMC3662243). In many disease states, such as cancer or inflammation, the properties of the intercellular space are altered, often leading to increased fluid pressure that can obstruct the delivery of therapeutic agents to their intended cellular targets (PubMed: 22891244). Consequently, while drugs may be designed to modify the contents of this space, the space itself is categorized as a transport medium rather than a discrete molecular target.

Other names

Interstitial spaceExtracellular spaceIntercellular gapTissue space

Drugs typically target components within this space or manipulate its physical properties, such as osmotic pressure or fluid volume, rather than binding to the space as a receptor.