Abstract

Ramraj Prajapati, Pragya Sharma, Dr. Rita Mourya, Dr. Shailesh Jain

ABSTRACT

Liposomal drug delivery systems represent a significant advancement in cancer therapy, addressing key limitations of conventional chemotherapy through enhanced pharmacokinetics and targeted drug delivery. This review comprehensively examines the fundamental principles, clinical applications, and future directions of liposomal drug delivery in oncology. Liposomes—spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers—offer versatile platforms for encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic therapeutic agents, improving drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability while reducing systemic toxicity. The evolution of liposomal technology has progressed from conventional formulations to advanced systems including stealth liposomes with prolonged circulation times, targeted immunoliposomes with enhanced tumor specificity, and stimuli-responsive liposomes enabling controlled drug release. FDA-approved liposomal formulations have demonstrated clinical benefits across multiple indications, with significant reductions in adverse effects compared to conventional chemotherapy while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. Contemporary research focuses on combination approaches integrating liposomal chemotherapy with immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted agents to maximize therapeutic outcomes. Despite economic and regulatory challenges, cost-effectiveness analyses frequently demonstrate favorable profiles for liposomal formulations when considering comprehensive healthcare expenditures. Emerging trends include multi-responsive liposomal systems, theranostic applications combining therapy and diagnostics, and personalized approaches tailored to individual tumor characteristics. The integration of liposomal delivery with advanced nanotechnology presents unprecedented opportunities for enhancing cancer treatment precision and efficacy. This review highlights both the transformative potential and persistent challenges of liposomal drug delivery in cancer therapy, providing insights into current clinical applications and future research directions aimed at improving patient outcomes.