Liposomal nanomedicine in cancer therapy: advances in drug delivery

Nanomedicine offers innovative and less invasive therapies by targeting key biological pathways through specific ligands, enhancing precision and minimizing adverse effects. Among nanocarriers, liposomes stand out for their dual aqueous-organic structure, which enables encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, improving drug stability and bioavailability.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with about 9.6 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite advances in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, major challenges persist, including toxicity and multidrug resistance. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools for cancer therapy, acting through direct tumor targeting, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and activation of immune responses. This review summarizes recent preclinical and clinical findings on liposomal formulations used against breast, liver, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, focusing on their therapeutic potential and translational progress.

Liposome performance depends on molecular surface modifications using carbohydrates, proteins, peptides, aptamers, or monoclonal antibodies. These functionalized liposomes enable ligand-receptor recognition, facilitating endocytosis and controlled intracellular drug release. Consequently, targeted liposomal systems achieve higher specificity and reduced systemic toxicity compared with passively delivered formulations.