Clinical Advancements in the Targeted Therapies against Liver Fibrosis

Table 2

Targeting strategies explored for the preclinical therapeutic treatment of liver fibrosis.

Cellular target	Targeting ligand	Carrier	Drug	References
Hepatocytes
Asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor	Galactose, galactosylated lipid (lactobionic acid)	Liposomes, solid Lipid nanoparticles	Quercetin, Cucurbitacin B, TLR4 siRNA	[123–125]
Hepatic stellate cells
Mannose-6-phosphate receptor	Mannose-6-phosphate	HSA, liposomes	Doxorubicin, pentoxifylline, rosiglitazone, 15dPGJ2, Gliotoxin, Losartan, Y27632, rho-kinase inhibitor, ALK5 inhibitor LY-36947	[126–133]
Retinol binding protein (RBP)	Vitamin A	Liposomes, RcP nanoparticles	HSP47 siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO)	[51, 134]
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor	Cyclic peptide and bicyclic peptide	HSA, peptide, liposomes	Interferon gamma (IFNγ) and mimetic IFNγ	[50, 135, 136]
Integrins	RGD peptide	Liposomes, polymersomes	Interferon alpha 1 beta (IFN-α-1b), hepatocyte growth factor, oxymatrine	[137–139]
Kupffer cells (macrophages)
Mannose receptor	Mannose	Liposomes, nanoparticles	Dexamethasone, TNFα-siRNA	[140, 141]
Scavenger receptor	—	Liposomes	Dexamethasone	[142]
Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs)
Endoglin (CD105) receptor	Endoglin (CD105)	Lentiviral particles	Erythropoietin gene	[143]
Hyaluronic acid (HA) receptor	Hyaluronic acid	Micelles	—	[144]