Nanotechnology for therapy and imaging of liver diseases

Nanotechnology has been considered for the improved delivery of various therapeutic agents, including drugs and genes. Indeed, liposomes and nanoparticles equipped with homing devices for the targeting of receptors over-expressed on the hepatic tissue have improved the treatment of various liver diseases. In this review, various nanotechnology approaches employed for the treatment/imaging of liver disease, either in preclinical or in clinic are discussed. (C) 2011 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.