Liposomal Formulations in Cancer Therapy: Basic Concepts to Advanced Strategies

Abstract

Liposomes, a phospholipid bilayer vesicular system is extensively being used and studied for drug delivery applications in cancer therapy. The reason behind is advantages that liposomes offer such as their biocompatible and non-immunogenic nature, improved bioavailability of anticancer drugs and versatility of efficiently encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Recent advances such as surface functionalization and modifications of liposomes have played very crucial part to overcome limitations associated with conventional liposomal system which eventually has opened up many new and potential ways of cancer therapy. Surface decoration of liposomes with targeting ligand can lead to actively targeted site specific therapy of solid tumor. Recently, a number of liposomal formulations for cancer treatment are already in clinic and many are still under active research. This review discusses about the basics of liposomes such as structural, components, methods of preparation, and mainly focuses on recent advances of liposomal technology which includes various kinds of surface modification of currently used liposomes with efficient passive or active targeted drug delivery along with its mechanism, the advantages and associated drawbacks and their potential applications in treatment of cancer.