Lipid based nanoparticles as a novel treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review on targeting and recent advances

TL;DR

This review explores how lipid-based nanoparticles offer a promising new approach for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, a common and deadly form of liver cancer.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of lipid-based nanoparticle types and targeting strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Findings

Lipid-based nanoparticles show potential in improving drug delivery and treatment outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Various nanoparticle types and targeting methods, such as passive and active targeting, are reviewed for enhanced tumor uptake.

Nanoparticles offer advantages over conventional drug treatments by improving specificity and reducing side effects.

Abstract

Liver cancer is considered one of the deadliest diseases with one of the highest disease burdens worldwide. Among the different types of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma is considered to be the most common type. Multiple conventional approaches are being used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. Focusing on drug treatment, regular agents in conventional forms fail to achieve the intended clinical outcomes. In order to improve the treatment outcomes, utilizing nanoparticles—specifically lipid based nanoparticles—are considered to be one of the most promising approaches being set in motion. Multiple forms of lipid based nanoparticles exist including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, phytosomes, lipid coated nanoparticles, and nanoassemblies. Multiple approaches are used to enhance the tumor uptake as well tumor specificity such as intratumoral injection, passive targeting, active targeting, and stimuli responsive nanoparticles. In this review, the effect of utilizing lipidic nanoparticles is being discussed as well as the different tumor uptake enhancement techniques used.

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