Targeting Liposomal Nanomedicine to Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are designed to improve the pharmacological and therapeutic effect. In the past few decades, there are some problems that impeded applications of particulate DDS have been resolved, with several DDS formulations of anticancer now approved for clinical use. Liposomal nanoparticles (LNs) encapsulating therapeutic agents have been recognized as one of the most advanced classes of DDS. Liposomal nanoparticles (LNs) could encapsulate both conventional anticancer drugs and the new genetic drugs with several properties such as high drug-to-lipid ratio, excellent retention of drug and a long circulation lifetime. These excellent properties of LNs have the potentials to offer new treatments in area of cancer therapy. Here, we will discuss recent advances in this field involving conventional anticancer drugs as well as the new genetic drugs.