Therapeutic peptides and their delivery using lipid-based nanoparticles

Therapeutic peptides have become an intensively anticipated research field for novel drug discovery and design owing to their high specificity, efficacy, and biocompatibility. The advances in computer technology and structural biology, together with the invention of chemical peptide synthesis methods, have led to tremendous progress in this research field. Over the years, more than 100 peptide-based therapeutics have been approved for clinical use, and many others are currently under clinical trials. However, the in vivo application of therapeutic peptides is hindered by intrinsic disadvantages of peptides, such as poor stability against enzymatic degradations, short in vivo half-life, and low oral bioavailability. Therefore, strategies for efficiently protecting the peptides inside the body and facilitating the delivery of peptides to their targets are required. Lipid-based nanoparticles are considered a versatile class of carriers for drug delivery. Their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to interact with biological membranes make them ideal platforms for in vivo delivery of peptides. Here, by leveraging examples, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of therapeutic peptide developments and lipid-based nanoparticles as drug carriers. Recent attempts to utilize lipid-based nanoparticles as platforms for the oral delivery of therapeutic peptides are also discussed.