Lipid-Based Nanocarrier Systems for Drug Delivery: Advances and Applications

Abstract

Lipid-based nanocarriers have been extensively investigated for drug delivery due to their advantages including biodegradability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, and nonimmunogenicity. However, the shortcomings of traditional lipid-based nanocarriers such as insufficient targeting, capture by the reticuloendothelial system, and fast elimination limit the efficiency of drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, a series of multifunctional lipid-based nanocarriers have been developed to enhance the accumulation of drugs in the lesion site, aiming for improved diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. In this review, we summarized the advances and applications of lipid-based nanocarriers from traditional to novel functional lipid preparations, including liposomes, stimuli-responsive lipid-based nanocarriers, ionizable lipid nanoparticles, lipid hybrid nanocarriers, as well as biomembrane-camouflaged nanoparticles, and further discussed the challenges and prospects of this system. This exploration may give a complete idea viewing the lipid-based nanocarriers as a promising choice for drug delivery system, and fuel the advancement of pharmaceutical products by materials innovation and nanotechnology.

Nanoscale materials at work: Mapping emerging applications in energy, medicine, and beyond

“…Their elegance lies in their ability to overcome some of the most pressing challenges in drug delivery -improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, protecting labile compounds from degradation, and precisely targeting disease sites within the body. 187,198,199,[203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210][211] A strong advantage of lipid nanoparticles drug carriers is the fact that most of their components are physiological lipids and excipients which are generally recognized as safe (GRAS). 200 They are superior to other nanosized drug delivery systems in minimizing systemic toxicity while maintaining adequate solubility 201 and constitute a common type of regulatory approved nanomedicines.…”

“…Their elegance lies in their ability to overcome some of the most pressing challenges in drug delivery -improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, protecting labile compounds from degradation, and precisely targeting disease sites within the body. 187,[203][204][205][206][207][208][209][210][211] Lipid NPs have a wide range of applications, including cancer therapy (reducing systemic toxicity and enabling targeted delivery), infectious disease treatment (improving drug stability and selective delivery to infected tissues), vaccine delivery (enhancing immune responses), and gene therapy (safe and efficient gene transfection). 194,212 They are employed also in the treatment of neurological disorders (overcoming bloodbrain barrier challenges), ophthalmic conditions (enhancing drug retention in the eye), cardiovascular therapies (improving drug solubility and controlled release), and more.…”

Lipid nanodiscs spontaneously formed by an amphiphilic polymethacrylate derivative as an efficient nanocarrier for molecular delivery to intact cells

“… 6 Lipid-based nanocarriers have gained significant attention as they offer several advantages such as facile preparation, high encapsulation efficiency of water-insoluble drug molecules, excellent biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. 7 Furthermore, chemical modification of lipid-based nanocarriers allows precise control of membrane properties and functions, realising specific targeting 8 and stimuli-responsive release of entrapped drug molecules. 9 Due to their potential in molecular therapies, several nanomedicines employing lipid-based nanocarriers have been already approved for clinical usage.…”