Different colloidal formulations: nanocapsules (NC), emulsion and micelles, containing the lipophilic immunomodulator muramyltripeptide cholesterol (MTP-Chol) induce nitric oxide synthase activity in the RAW 264.7 cell line. The use of cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of cell movements, showed that phagocytosis was an important mechanism as far as NC and the emulsion were concerned. However, when the cells were separated from particles containing the immunomodulator by a membrane of 100 nm pore size, significant activity could still be obtained, provided that serum was included in the medium. To determine whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) might act as an intermediate carrier for MTP-Chol, the transfer of the immunomodulator from NC to LDL was studied by an ultrafiltration/centrifugation method followed by HPLC analysis. Although MTP-Chol could be transferred to LDL, when purified human LDL was added to serum-free medium, activation by MTP-Chol NC was reduced, rather than increased. This suggests that intact LDL carrying MTP-Chol is not taken up to a great extent by these macrophages.