[Intracellular distribution and destruction of liposomes after in vitro phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages].

Electron microscopy was used to watch and monitor free as well as phagosomically incorporated multilamellar vesicles (MLV) which were considered to be signs of rapid recycling of phagosomal membranes. Close relations were found to exist between lysosomes, on the one hand, and MLV in phagosomes, on the other. The same applied to MLV and mitochondria or nuclear membranes. Destruction of MLV was highly differentiated. Hints are given in this paper on the kinetics of such processes. These results are considered to be of some relevance to the suitability of liposomes as carriers of pharmaceutical substances.