Lipid-Based Nanocarriers in Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery: Platforms, Targeting Strategies, and Therapeutic Applications

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and the limitations of conventional therapies, including systemic toxicity, non-specific drug distribution, and drug resistance, have highlighted the urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology has created new opportunities to improve the efficacy of anticancer treatments through the development of advanced drug delivery systems. Among various nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers have emerged as one of the most promising drug delivery platforms owing to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, favorable drug-loading capacity, and ease of surface modification. This review discusses the major classes of lipid-based nanocarriers, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), micelles, lipid nanocapsules, and lipid nanoemulsions. Furthermore, different targeted drug delivery mechanisms, including passive targeting, active targeting, physical targeting, stimuli-responsive systems, and immune evasion strategies, are comprehensively reviewed. Current evidence suggests that these systems can enhance drug bioavailability, provide controlled drug release, reduce systemic toxicity, and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. Despite these advantages, several challenges, including tumor heterogeneity, industrial-scale manufacturing limitations, immune-related barriers, and the gap between preclinical findings and clinical applications, remain unresolved. Overall, the integration of lipid-based nanocarriers with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, gene therapy, and personalized medicine offers a promising perspective for the development of next-generation cancer therapeutics.

کلیدواژه ها:

Lipid-based nanocarriers ، Targeted drug delivery ، Cancer therapy ، Nanomedicine ، Gene therapy