Updates on Responsive Drug Delivery Based on Liposome Vehicles for Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Liposomes are well-known nanoparticles with a non-toxic nature and the ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs simultaneously. As modern drug delivery formulations are produced by emerging technologies, numerous advantages of liposomal drug delivery systems over conventional liposomes or free drug treatment of cancer have been reported. Recently, liposome nanocarriers have exhibited high drug loading capacity, drug protection, improved bioavailability, enhanced intercellular delivery, and better therapeutic effect because of resounding success in targeting delivery. The site targeting of smart responsive liposomes, achieved through changes in their physicochemical and morphological properties, allows for the controlled release of active compounds under certain endogenous or exogenous stimuli. In that way, the multifunctional and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for the drug delivery of cancer therapeutics enhance the efficacy of treatment prevention and fighting over metastases, while limiting the systemic side effects on healthy tissues and organs. Since liposomes constitute promising nanocarriers for site-targeted and controlled anticancer drug release, this review focuses on the recent progress of smart liposome achievements for anticancer drug delivery applications.

Recent Advances in Intranasal Liposomes for Drug, Gene, and Vaccine Delivery

“…Liposomes can be classified according to their structure, physicochemical properties, or in vivo fate. Depending on the phospholipid used, liposomes can be neutral, cationic, or anionic [ 15 , 16 ]. Based on the lamellae, they can be unilamellar, oligolamellar, or multilamellar liposomes.…”

“…Liposomes are produced from phospholipids, which are amphiphilic molecules comprising a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails. Liposomes may be neutral, cationic, or anionic, depending on the constituting phospholipids [ 15 , 16 ]. The neutral phospholipids include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylethanolamine.…”

Advances in Liposome-Encapsulated Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy

“…The disadvantage of these nanoparticles is the fact that two NIR photons must be absorbed in a very short period of time, which requires high-intensity radiation sources (lasers). With regard to the maximum power of the lasers (so as not to damage the surface tissue) and the scattering of light during tissue penetration, the usable depth is effectively limited [ 147 , 148 , 149 ].…”

Research Status and Prospect of Non-Viral Vectors Based on siRNA: A Review

“…Liposomes can be used as antibodies, aptamers or other receptor ligands. The surface modification strategies and classification methods of liposomes are shown in Figure 2 [ 87 ]. Conventional liposomes can be used to treat diseases that are associated with mono-macrophage system cells.…”