ENDOCYTOSIS, TRAFFICKING AND EXOCYTOSIS OF NANOPARTICLES: A BRIEF REVIEW

Abstract Nanoparticles have emerged as promising agents as vehicles for myriad uses varying from drug delivery to gene therapy. The knowledge of their endocytosis, intracellular trafficking and exocytosis becomes crucial for precise modulation of their uptake and retention inside cells which in turn would affect the therapeutic efficacy of the drug carried by them. Intracellular trafficking and exocytosis of nanoparticles are not very well-studied areas in contrast to endocytosis of nanoparticles which has been studied in considerable detail. In this brief review, different pathways of nanoparticle endocytosis, different routes of intracellular trafficking of nanoparticles as well as their exocytosis have been discussed with a focus on recent findings regarding nanoparticle trafficking and exocytosis.