Lipid Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy

Abstract

This manuscript explores the use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) in addressing the pivotal challenges of lung cancer treatment, including drug delivery inefficacy and multi-drug resistance. LNPs have significantly advanced targeted therapy by improving the precision and reducing the systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel. This manuscript details the design and benefits of various LNP systems, including solid lipid-polymer hybrids, which offer controlled release and enhanced drug encapsulation. Despite achievements in reducing tumor size and enhancing survival, challenges such as manufacturing complexity, biocompatibility, and variable clinical outcomes persist. Future directions are aimed at refining targeting capabilities, expanding combinatorial therapies, and integrating advanced manufacturing techniques to tailor treatments to individual patient profiles, thus promising to transform lung cancer therapy through interdisciplinary collaboration and regulatory innovation.

Keywords: drug delivery; drug resistance; lipid nanoparticles; lung cancer; personalized medicine.

Figure 1

Different types of lipid-based nanocarriers [12].

Figure 2

The anoikis-resistant lung cancer cells also develop drug resistance; the potential of PLGA–lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLHNPs) to improve the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel, for eradicating anoikis-resistant lung cancer cells during metastasis [16].

Figure 3

A schematic diagram of Tf-PTX-DNA-NLC (transferrin-decorated nanostructured lipid carriers co-encapsulating paclitaxel and DNA) [57].

Figure 4

Evaluation of therapeutic effects of STING-LNPs against Renca lung metastasis in vivo: mice with Renca metastasis were intravenously injected three times with the STING-LNPs on days 2, 6, and 10, Mean ± SEM (n = 17). The lungs were collected on day 16, Mean + SEM (n = 3–4, ** p < 0.01) The STING-LNP treatment also significantly reduced the lung weight (152 ± 8 mg) compared with that of the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated groups (350 ± 31 mg) [6].