New uses of tiny fat-based carriers for lung cancer treatment

Lipid-based nanocarriers may enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient safety in lung cancer treatment.

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with few curative options available, especially in advanced stages.
• Lipid nanocarriers, such as nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), have shown potential for effective drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and versatility.
• Recent advances include the integration of solvent-free processes and FDA-approved excipients in formulation strategies.
• The co-encapsulation of both hydrophilic and lipophilic agents within a single nanocarrier is facilitated by reverse micelle architectures.
• Challenges in clinical translation include large-scale manufacturing issues, biodistribution variability, and rapid clearance of these carriers.
• Potential solutions to these barriers include Quality-by-Design approaches, lung-on-chip models, and advanced characterization tools.

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