pH-sensitive liposomes for drug delivery in cancer treatment

Abstract

In recent years, liposomes have been employed with growing success as pharmaceutical carriers for antineoplastic drugs. One specific strategy used to enhance in vivo liposome-mediated drug delivery is the improvement of intracytoplasmic delivery. In this context, pH-sensitive liposomes (pHSLip) have been designed to explore the endosomal acidification process, which may lead to a destabilization of the liposomes, followed by a release of their contents into the cell cytoplasm. This review considers the current status of pHSLip development and its applicability in cancer treatment, focusing on the mechanisms of pH sensitivity and liposomal composition of pHSLip. The final section will discuss the application of these formulations in both in vitro and in vivo studies of antitumor efficacy.