Surface Modification of Lipid-Based Nanocarriers: A Potential Approach to Enhance Targeted Drug Delivery

Abstract

Nanocarriers have the utmost significance for advancements in drug delivery and nanomedicine technology. They are classified as polymer-based nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers, viral nanoparticles, or inorganic nanoparticles, depending on their constituent parts. Lipid-based nanocarrier systems have gained tremendous attention over the years because of their noteworthy properties like high drug-loading capacity, lower toxicity, better bioavailability and biocompatibility, stability in the gastrointestinal tract, controlled release, simpler scale-up, and validation process. Nanocarriers still have some disadvantages like poor drug penetration, limited drug encapsulation, and poor targeting. These disadvantages can be overcome by their surface modification. Surface-modified nanocarriers result in controlled release, enhanced penetration efficiency, and targeted medication delivery. In this review, the authors summarize the numerous lipid-based nanocarriers and their functionalization through various surface modifiers such as polymers, ligands, surfactants, and fatty acids. Recent examples of newly developing surface-modified lipid-based nanocarrier systems from the available literature, along with their applications, have been compiled in this work.

Figure 1

Diagrammatic representation of different types of surface modifiers used for modification of the surface of lipid-based nanocarriers.

Figure 2

Schematic illustration of the effect of surface modification on the performance of the lipid nanocarrier system.

Figure 3

(a) Schematic illustration of preparation and application of PTX-CTs/Gel as a paintable patch for topical drug delivery. (b) Schematic illustration of enhancement on the transdermal efficiency of PTX by the PTX-CTs/Gel for noninvasive chemotherapy of melanoma. Adapted from ref (25). Copyright 2018 American Chemical Society.

Figure 4

Graphical representation of TF and TF-FA cellular uptake by (A) U-87 MG and (B) L929 cells. Two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post-test (p < 0.05) (n = 3). Adapted with permission from ref (52). Copyright 2021 Elsevier.

Figure 5

(a) Mechanism of anticancer activity of HA-IM-CBs. (b) After orally administering IM, IM-CBs, and HA-IM-CBs in rats, plasma drug concentrations were measured at different time intervals. Adapted with permission from ref (57). Copyright 2022 Elsevier.