Liposomes encapsulating the bisphosphonate clodronate can be used for the transient suppression of macrophage functions. Given the important role of macrophages in various disorders, the application of clodronate liposomes has been studied in several models of rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders such as experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and spinal cord injury, autoantibody mediated disorders such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and for the improvement of the efficacy of gene transfer and drug targeting.