Liposome-based approaches for delivery of mainstream chemotherapeutics: preparation methods, liposome designs,...

We review liposome-based delivery approaches that aim to address toxicities and to improve the therapeutic efficacy of mainstream chemotherapeutics, namely, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cisplatin. A brief review of the biomolecular mechanism(s) of action of these agents is followed by a description of characteristic examples of therapeutic approaches and of liposome membrane designs. Short reports on clinical studies are also included when applicable. The technical issues of different loading/encapsulation methods of these agents into liposomes are also discussed in terms of the physicochemical properties of both the agents themselves and of the lipid-based self-assemblies.