Recent Advancements in Revolutionizing Cancer Therapy with Liposomal Drug Delivery

Background: The lipid-bilayer liposomes have emerged as promising candidates for the delivery of drugs in cancer treatment due to their capability to protect medications from gastrointestinal degradation, high drug encapsulation efficiency, and the potential for chemical modification through conjugation with various polymers and ligands. These features enhance their physiological properties and improve the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs by enabling more precise tumor targeting. Additionally, Liposomes can potentially enhance the efficacy, durability, and localization of these treatments within the body, offering significant benefits for nanomedicine applications. Objective: The current review aims to summarize the structural properties of liposomes, the mechanism of action by which liposomes inhibit cancerous cells, and the evolution of liposomal nanomedicine to treat different types of cancers over the last 5 years with patented and marketed formulations. Methods: A thorough literature review is being carried out with an emphasis on breakthroughs in the production of drug-loaded liposomes between 2020-2024, which include tumor cell targeting techniques, liposome surface modification, and multi-drug delivery to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Results: Recent advancements in liposome technology boosted medication release, tumor accumulation, and tumor targeting without endangering healthy tissues. Poor drug release, restricted penetration into tumor cells, and varying clinical results are still issues. Conclusion: Liposomes'; biocompatibility, ease of synthesis, and capacity to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic medications make them versatile choices for drug delivery. Future studies should enhance liposome formulations for large-scale production, explore combination therapies, and tackle regulatory challenges.