Advancements in Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Treatment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrmp.org.v10.i6.1

Nilima Das

Independent Researcher

Cuttack, Odisha, India

Abstract

Recent decades have witnessed a surge of interest in liposomal drug delivery systems as a means to enhance the therapeutic index of anticancer agents. Liposomes—spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers—offer significant advantages, including improved drug solubility, reduced systemic toxicity, and the potential for targeted delivery. This manuscript reviews the evolution of liposomal technologies in oncology, drawing upon literature published up to 2020. It explores innovations in formulation strategies, surface modifications to facilitate active targeting, and the integration of stimuli-responsive components for controlled release. A statistical analysis of clinical outcome data from select studies is presented, highlighting improvements in patient response rates and survival outcomes. The methodology section outlines the experimental protocols and data analysis strategies that underpin recent advancements. Our results indicate that modern liposomal formulations can substantially mitigate the adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents while enhancing efficacy. In conclusion, we discuss the current challenges and future directions for liposomal drug delivery, emphasizing the need for continued refinement in formulation design, large-scale clinical trials, and the translation of laboratory findings into standard clinical practice.

Keywords

Liposomal drug delivery, cancer treatment, targeted therapy, controlled release, nanotechnology, chemotherapy, clinical outcomes

References

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biorender.com%2Ftemplate%2Fliposome-based-drug-delivery&psig=AOvVaw20rKsHpb1ES1zzzxhk_C7d&ust=1740846227195000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCPDD1tnj5osDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAm
• Allen, T. M., & Cullis, P. R. (2013). Liposomal drug delivery systems: From concept to clinical applications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 65(1), 36–48.
• Barenholz, Y. (2012). Doxil®—The first FDA-approved nano-drug: Lessons learned. Journal of Controlled Release, 160(2), 117–134.
• Torchilin, V. P. (2005). Recent advances with liposomes as pharmaceutical carriers. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 4(2), 145–160.
• Gabizon, A., et al. (2014). Liposomal encapsulation of anticancer drugs: Challenges and opportunities. Cancer Research, 74(19), 5166–5172.
• Immordino, M. L., Dosio, F., & Cattel, L. (2006). Stealth liposomes: Review of the basic science, rationale, and clinical applications, existing and potential. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 1, 297–315.
• Fenske, D. B., & Cullis, P. R. (2002). The biopharmaceutical aspects of liposomal drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 46(1–3), 29–60.
• Drummond, D. C., et al. (2004). Optimal size of pegylated liposomes for improved circulation time and enhanced tumor uptake. Pharmaceutical Research, 21(3), 389–395.
• Torchilin, V. P. (2010). Passive and active drug targeting: Drug delivery to tumors as an example. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 197, 3–53.
• Mayer, L. D., et al. (2010). Smart liposomes for tumor-targeted drug delivery: State of the art. Current Drug Delivery, 7(3), 332–344.
• Maeda, H., et al. (2000). Tumor vascular permeability and the EPR effect in macromolecular therapeutics: A review. Journal of Controlled Release, 65(1–2), 271–284.
• Puri, A., et al. (2009). Liposomes: A versatile drug delivery system. Journal of Controlled Release, 124(1), 1–17.
• Allen, T. M., et al. (2004). Liposomal drug delivery systems: From concept to clinical applications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 56(2), 185–205.
• Zhang, Y., et al. (2015). Recent advances in liposomal drug delivery systems: Clinical applications and perspectives. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 12(8), 1149–1164.
• Lee, H., et al. (2012). Advances in liposomal drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 101(3), 1070–1090.
• Immordino, M. L., & Dosio, F. (2014). Nanocarriers for anticancer drug delivery. Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 53(10), 873–889.
• Li, S. D., & Huang, L. (2008). Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of nanoparticles. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 5(4), 496–504.
• Jain, R. K. (2001). Delivery of molecular and cellular medicine to solid tumors. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 46(1–3), 149–168.
• Yang, X., et al. (2013). Recent progress in stimuli-responsive liposomal drug delivery systems. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 1(42), 5688–5703.
• Fornaguera, C., et al. (2012). Liposomes as nanomedical devices. Methods in Molecular Biology, 851, 75–96.
• Sanna, V., et al. (2013). Targeted liposomal drug delivery: New insights in the treatment of cancer. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 8, 3265–3277.