Liposomes for Tumor Targeted Therapy: A Review

Liposomes, the most widely studied nano-drug carriers in drug delivery, are sphere-shaped vesicles consisting of one or more phospholipid bilayers. Compared with traditional drug delivery systems, liposomes exhibit prominent properties that include targeted delivery, high biocompatibility, biodegradability, easy functionalization, low toxicity, improvements in the sustained release of the drug it carries and improved therapeutic indices. In the wake of the rapid development of nanotechnology, the studies of liposome composition have become increasingly extensive. The molecular diversity of liposome composition, which includes long-circulating PEGylated liposomes, ligand-functionalized liposomes, stimuli-responsive liposomes, and advanced cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanocarriers, endows their drug delivery with unique physiological functions. This review describes the composition, types and preparation methods of liposomes, and discusses their targeting strategies in cancer therapy.

Automated summary

Liposomes are widely studied nano-drug carriers with prominent properties such as targeted delivery, high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. The molecular diversity of liposome composition, including PEGylated liposomes, ligand-functionalized liposomes, stimuli-responsive liposomes, and cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanocarriers, provides unique physiological functions for drug delivery. This review describes liposome composition, types, preparation methods, and discusses their targeting strategies in cancer therapy.