Recent Advancements in Liposome-Targeting Strategies for the Treatment of Gliomas: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Malignant tumors represent some of the most intractable diseases that endanger human health. A glioma is a tumor of the central nervous system that is characterized by severe invasiveness, blurred boundaries between the tumor and surrounding normal tissue, difficult surgical removal, and high recurrence. Moreover, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and multidrug resistance (MDR) are important factors that contribute to the lack of efficacy of chemotherapy in treating gliomas. A liposome is a biofilm-like drug delivery system with a unique phospholipid bilayer that exhibits high affinities with human tissues/organs (e.g., BBB). After more than five decades of development, classical and engineered liposomes consist of four distinct generations, each with different characteristics: (i) traditional liposomes, (ii) stealth liposomes, (iii) targeting liposomes, and (iv) biomimetic liposomes, which offer a promising approach to promote drugs across the BBB and to reverse MDR. Here, we review the history, preparatory methods, and physicochemical properties of liposomes. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms by which liposomes have assisted in the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas, including drug transport across the BBB, inhibition of efflux transporters, reversal of MDR, and induction of immune responses. Finally, we highlight ongoing and future clinical trials and applications toward further developing and testing the efficacies of liposomes in treating gliomas.

One Pot Doxorubicin Partitioning and Encapsulation on Silica Nanoparticle, Applying Aqueous Two Phase System for Preparation of pH-Responsive Nanocarriers

“…Targeted nano-drug delivery systems with small sizes (10 to 100 nm) enhance permeation through the newborn blood vessels of tumor tissues with slower clearance due to the lack of lymph 12 . These drug nanocarriers including micelles 13,14 , polymersomes 15 , liposomes 16 , dendrimers 17 , carbon nanotubes 18 , magnetic nanoparticles 19 and silica nanoparticles 20,21 are of high importance because of their higher permeability, detection of target cells, accumulation at cancer sites, less side effects, and more efficient treatment 4,5,22 .…”

Recent Advances in Understanding the Mechanisms of Elemene in Reversing Drug Resistance in Tumor Cells: A Review

“…Natural compounds that reverse MDR by inhibiting P-gp are potential chemotherapeutic MDR modulators. Drug delivery systems have been developed to transport chemotherapeutics to the tumor cell, such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanogels, polymer drug conjugates, powders, dendrimers, micelles, and hydrogels [ 86 , 87 ]. Nanoparticles evade and inhibit P-gp efflux activity by being decorated with anti-P-gp materials, such as conjugation or co-encapsulation with traditional anticancer drugs [ 84 ].…”

Active targeting of orthotopic glioma using biomimetic liposomes co-loaded elemene and cabazitaxel modified by transferritin

“…Liposomes are cell-like spherical vesicles formed by phospholipids and cholesterol and have recently attracted increased interest owing to their biocompatibility and BBB crossing abilities [ 11 ]. However, lack of active tumor targeting property significantly limits their applications in glioma chemotherapy.…”