Next-Generation Liposomes for Drug Delivery: Engineering Strategies and Therapeutic Applications
Abstract
Liposomes are versatile nanocarrier systems widely investigated for pharmaceutical drug delivery because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Since their discovery in the 1960s, liposomes have evolved into advanced nanomedicine platforms with applications in cancer therapy, antimicrobial treatment, gene delivery, vaccines, and personalised medicine. Advances in lipid chemistry, nanotechnology, and pharmaceutical engineering have enabled the development of long-circulating, targeted, stimuli-responsive, and multifunctional liposomal formulations. Several liposome-based products have received regulatory approval, demonstrating their clinical and translational potential. However, challenges related to formulation stability, encapsulation efficiency, large-scale manufacturing, storage, and regulatory requirements remain. Emerging approaches, including microfluidics, artificial intelligence-assisted formulation development, precision nanomedicine, and personalised drug delivery, are expected to address these limitations. This review discusses the historical development, structural characteristics, classification, preparation methods, therapeutic applications, clinical status, and future perspectives of liposomal drug delivery systems, with particular emphasis on recent innovations driving the development of next-generation liposomal therapeutics.
Keywords: Liposome, Nanomedicine,Drug Delivery System, Phospholipid Vesicles, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nanotechnology, Lipid Nanocarriers, Controlled Drug Release.
Keywords:
Liposome, Nanomedicine, Drug Delivery System, Phospholipid Vesicles, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nanotechnology, Lipid Nanocarriers, Controlled Drug ReleaseDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i10.8038References
1. Allen TM, Cullis PR, Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems: From Concept To Clinical Applications, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2013; 65(1):36-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.037 PMid:23036225 PMCid:PMC10539472
2. Kim BY, Rutka JT, Chan WC, Nanomedicine, New England Journal Of Medicine, 2010; 363:2434-2443. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra0912273 PMid:21158659 PMCid:PMC9302016
3. Torchilin VP, Recent Advances With Liposomes As Pharmaceutical Carriers, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2005; 4(2):145-160. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd1632 PMid:15688077 PMCid:PMC6702818
4. Sercombe L, Veerati T, Moheimani F, Wu SY, Sood AK, Hua S, Advances And Challenges Of Liposome-Assisted Drug Delivery, Frontiers In Pharmacology, 2015; 6:286. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00286 PMid:26648870 PMCid:PMC4664963
5. Akbarzadeh A, Rezaei-Sadabady R, Davaran S, Joo SW, Zarghami N, Hanifehpour Y, Et Al, Liposome: Classification, Preparation And Applications, Nanoscale Research Letters, 2013; 8:102. https://doi.org/10.1186/1556-276X-8-102 PMid:23432972 PMCid:PMC3599573
6. Cullis PR, Hope MJ, Lipid Nanoparticle Systems For Enabling Gene Therapies, Molecular Therapy, 2017; 25(7):1467-1475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.03.013 PMid:28412170 PMCid:PMC5498813
7. Pattni BS, Chupin VV, Torchilin VP, New Developments In Liposomal Drug Delivery, Chemical Reviews, 2015; 115(19):10938-10966. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00046 PMid:26010257
8. Abdus Samad A, Sultana Y, Aqil M, Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems: An Update Review, Current Drug Delivery, 2007; 4:297-305. https://doi.org/10.2174/156720107782151269 PMid:17979650
9. Yatvin MB, Weinstein JN, Dennis WH, Bluementhal R, Design Of Liposomes For Enhanced Local Release Of Drugs By Hyperthermia, Science, 1978; 202:1290-1293. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.364652 PMid:364652
10. Weinstein JN, Magin RL, Cysyk RL, Zaharko DS, Treatment Of Solid L1210 Murine Tumors With Local Hyperthermia And Temperature-Sensitive Liposomes Containing Methotrexate, Cancer Research, 1980; 40:1388-1395.
11. Tacker JR, Anderson RU, Delivery Of Antitumor Drug To Bladder Cancer By Use Of Phase Transition Liposomes And Hyperthermia, Journal Of Urology, 1982; 127:1211-1214. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(17)54299-8 PMid:7087041
12. Zou YY, Ueno M, Yamagishi M, Horokoshi I, Yamashita I, Tazawa K, Gu XO, Targeting Behaviour Of Hepatic Artery Injected Temperature-Sensitive Liposomal Adriamycin On Tumor-Bearing Rats, Selected Cancer Therapy, 1990; 6:119-127. https://doi.org/10.1089/sct.1990.6.119 PMid:2281201
13. Bangham AD, Standish MM, Watkins JC, Diffusion Of Univalent Ions Across The Lamellae Of Swollen Phospholipids, Journal Of Molecular Biology, 1965; 13(1):238-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2836(65)80093-6 PMid:5859039
14. Gregoriadis G, The Carrier Potential Of Liposomes In Biology And Medicine, New England Journal Of Medicine, 1976; 295(14):765-770. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197609302951406 PMid:785256
15. Szoka F Jr, Papahadjopoulos D, Comparative Properties And Methods Of Preparation Of Lipid Vesicles, Annual Review Of Biophysics And Bioengineering, 1978; 7:467-508. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.bb.09.060180.002343 PMid:6994593
16. Cullis PR, Madden TD, Bally MB, Mayer LD, Hope MJ, Janoff AS, Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems: Advances In Technology, Trends In Biotechnology, 1989; 7(10):244-249.
17. Barenholz Y, Doxil® - The First FDA-Approved Nano-Drug: Lessons Learned, Journal Of Controlled Release, 2012; 160(2):117-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.03.020 PMid:22484195 PMCid:PMC10539472
18. Lasic DD, Liposomes: From Physics To Applications, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1993.
19. Gregoriadis G, Liposome Technology, 2nd Ed, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1995.
20. Bozzuto G, Molinari A, Liposomes As Nanomedical Devices, International Journal Of Nanomedicine, 2015; 10:975-999. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S68861 PMid:25678787 PMCid:PMC4324542
21. Needham D, Dewhirst MW, The Development And Testing Of Temperature-Sensitive Liposomes For Chemotherapy, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2001; 53(3):285-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-409X(01)00233-2 PMid:11744173
22. Bulbake U, Doppalapudi S, Kommineni N, Khan W, Liposomal Formulations In Clinical Use, Pharmaceutics, 2017; 9(2):12. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics9020012 PMid:28346375 PMCid:PMC5489929
23. Barenholz Y, Amselem S, Lichtenberg D, FEBS Letters, 1979; 99:210-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-5793(79)80281-1 PMid:437128
24. Pagano RE, Weinstein JN, Annual Review Of Biophysics And Bioengineering, 1978; 7:435-468. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.bb.07.060178.002251 PMid:352245
25. Hope MJ, Bally MB, Webb G, Cullis PR, Production Of Large Unilamellar Vesicles By A Rapid Extrusion Procedure: Characterization Of Size Distribution, Trapped Volume And Ability To Maintain A Membrane Potential, Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 1985; 812(1):55-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-2736(85)90521-8
26. Immordino ML, Dosio F, Cattel L, Stealth Liposomes: Review Of The Basic Science, Rationale And Clinical Applications, International Journal Of Nanomedicine, 2006; 1(3):297-315.
27. Mozafari MR, Liposomes: An Overview Of Manufacturing Techniques, Cell And Molecular Biology Letters, 2005; 10(4):711-719.
28. Allen TM, Ligand-Targeted Therapeutics In Anticancer Therapy, Nature Reviews Cancer, 2002; 2(10):750-763. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc903 PMid:12360278
29. Langmuir I, The Constitution And Structural Properties Of Solids And Liquids. II. Liquids, Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 1917; 39:1848-1906. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja02254a006
30. Deamer DW, From “Banghasomes” To Liposomes: A Memoir Of Alec Bangham, 1921-2010, FASEB Journal, 2010; 24:1308-1310. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.10-0503 PMid:20430797
31. New RCC, Preparation Of Liposomes, In: Liposomes: A Practical Approach, Oxford University Press, New York, 1990; 33-104.
32. Zhang H, Thin-Film Hydration Followed By Extrusion Method For Liposome Preparation, In: Liposomes: Methods In Molecular Biology, Humana Press, 2017; 1522. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6591-5_2 PMid:27837527 PMCid:PMC7968667
33. Xiang B, De-Ying C, Liposome-Based Drug Delivery Systems, In: Biomaterial Engineering, Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg, 2018.
34. Lasch J, Weissig V, Brandl M, Preparation Of Liposomes, In: Liposomes: A Practical Approach, 2nd Ed, Oxford University Press, New York, 2003; 3-29. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199636556.003.0001
35. Lesoin L, Crampon C, Boutin O, Badens E, Preparation Of Liposomes Using The Supercritical Anti-Solvent (SAS) Process And Comparison With A Conventional Method, Journal Of Supercritical Fluids, 2011; 57:162-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2011.01.006
36. Trucillo P, Campardelli R, Reverchon E, A Versatile Supercritical Assisted Process For The One-Shot Production Of Liposomes, Journal Of Supercritical Fluids, 2019; 146:136-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2019.01.015
37. Trucillo P, Martino M, Reverchon E, Supercritical Assisted Production Of Lutein-Loaded Liposomes And Modelling Of Drug Release, Processes, 2021; 9:1162. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9071162
38. Trucillo P, Cardea S, Baldino L, Reverchon E, Production Of Liposomes Loaded Alginate Aerogels Using Two Supercritical CO2 Assisted Techniques, Journal Of CO2 Utilization, 2020; 39:101161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101161
39. Meure LA, Knott R, Foster NR, Dehghani F, The Depressurization Of An Expanded Solution Into Aqueous Media For The Bulk Production Of Liposomes, Langmuir, 2009; 25:326-337. https://doi.org/10.1021/la802511a PMid:19072018
40. Bulbake U, Et Al, Liposomal Formulations In Clinical Use: An Updated Review, Pharmaceutics, 2017; 9(2):12. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics9020012 PMid:28346375 PMCid:PMC5489929
41. Yadav D, Sandeep K, Pandey D, Et Al, Liposomes For Drug Delivery, Journal Of Biotechnology And Biomaterials, 2017; 7(4):1-8.
42. Bozzuto G, Molinari A, Liposomes As Nanomedical Devices, International Journal Of Nanomedicine, 2015; 10:975-999. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S68861 PMid:25678787 PMCid:PMC4324542
43. Deshpande PP, Biswas S, Torchilin VP, Current Trends In The Use Of Liposomes For Tumor Targeting, Nanomedicine, 2013; 8(9):1509-1528. https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm.13.118 PMid:23914966 PMCid:PMC3842602
44. Lindner LH, Hossann M, Factors Affecting Drug Release From Liposomes, Current Opinion In Drug Discovery & Development, 2010; 13(1):111-123.
45. Ponce A, Wright A, Dewhirst M, Et Al, Targeted Bioavailability Of Drugs By Triggered Release From Liposomes, Future Lipidology, 2006; 1(1):25-34. https://doi.org/10.2217/17460875.1.1.25
46. Magarkar A, Dhawan V, Kallinteri P, Et Al, Cholesterol Level Affects Surface Charge Of Lipid Membranes In Saline Solution, Scientific Reports, 2014; 4(1):5005. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep05005 PMid:24845659 PMCid:PMC4028897
47. Drummond DC, Meyer O, Hong K, Et Al, Optimizing Liposomes For Delivery Of Chemotherapeutic Agents To Solid Tumors, Pharmacological Reviews, 1999; 51(4):691-743. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-6997(24)01426-1 PMid:10581328
48. Jovanović AA, Balanč BD, Ota A, Et Al, Comparative Effects Of Cholesterol And Β-Sitosterol On The Liposome Membrane Characteristics, European Journal Of Lipid Science And Technology, 2018; 120(9):1800039. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.201800039
49. Kaddah S, Khreich N, Kaddah F, Et Al, Cholesterol Modulates The Liposome Membrane Fluidity And Permeability For A Hydrophilic Molecule, Food And Chemical Toxicology, 2018; 113:40-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.01.017 PMid:29337230
50. Saito H, Shinoda W, Cholesterol Effect On Water Permeability Through DPPC And PSM Lipid Bilayers: A Molecular Dynamics Study, Journal Of Physical Chemistry B, 2011; 115(51):15241-15250. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp201611p PMid:22081997
51. Guimarães D, Cavaco-Paulo A, Nogueira E, Design Of Liposomes As Drug Delivery System For Therapeutic Applications, International Journal Of Pharmaceutics, 2021; 601:120571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120571 PMid:33812967
52. Large DE, Abdelmessih RG, Fink EA, Auguste DT, Liposome Composition In Drug Delivery Design, Synthesis, Characterization, And Clinical Application, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2021; 176:113851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2021.113851 PMid:34224787
53. Liu P, Chen G, Zhang J, A Review Of Liposomes As A Drug Delivery System: Current Status Of Approved Products, Regulatory Environments, And Future Perspectives, Molecules, 2022; 27(4):1372. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041372 PMid:35209162 PMCid:PMC8879473
54. Agarwal K, Liposome Assisted Drug Delivery-An Updated Review, Indian Journal Of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022; 84(4):797-811. https://doi.org/10.36468/pharmaceutical-sciences.975
55. Pande S, Liposomes For Drug Delivery: Review Of Vesicular Composition, Factors Affecting Drug Release And Drug Loading In Liposomes, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, And Biotechnology, 2023; 51(1):428-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2023.2247036 PMid:37594208
56. Abbasi H, Kouchak M, Mirveis Z, Et Al, What We Need To Know About Liposomes As Drug Nanocarriers: An Updated Review, Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2023; 13(1):7-23. https://doi.org/10.34172/apb.2023.009 PMid:36721822 PMCid:PMC9871273
57. Pande S, Factors Affecting Response Variables With Emphasis On Drug Release And Loading For Optimization Of Liposomes, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, And Biotechnology, 2024; 52(1):334-344. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2024.2360634 PMid:38833335
58. Atre P, Rizvi SAA, A Brief Overview Of Quality By Design Approach For Developing Pharmaceutical Liposomes As Nano-Sized Parenteral Drug Delivery Systems, RSC Pharmaceutics, 2024; 1:675-688. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4PM00201F
59. Shadab A, Haider MF, Abohassan M, Liposome-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Mechanisms, Preparation Strategies, Clinical Status, And Therapeutic Applications, AAPS Pharmscitech, 2026; 27(4):190. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-026-03425-3 PMid:42026392
60. Michael A, Bhattacharya D, Gopal V, Suresh D, Arun J, Ganesh GNK, Liposomes As Versatile Drug Delivery Vehicles: Emerging Trends, Technological Innovations And Future Perspectives, Journal Of Liposome Research, 2026; 36(2):234-251. https://doi.org/10.1080/08982104.2026.2619919 PMid:41652885
61. Zhang X, Liu W, Chu H, Zong W, Liposomes: A Breakthrough In Advanced Drug Delivery Systems, Advanced Colloid And Interface Science, 2026; 353:103887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2026.103887 PMid:41935409
62. Maheshwari N, Ghode P, Maheshwari R, Membrane Mechanics As Critical Quality Attributes In Liposomal Drug Delivery: Linking Bilayer Structure, Mechanics, And Performance, International Journal Of Pharmaceutics, 2026; 701:127116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.127116 PMid:42336333
63. Li Z, Li M, Lu J, Biomimetic Liposomes In Drug Delivery: From Design Mechanisms To Applications, Chemical Society Reviews, 2026; 55:1008-1038. https://doi.org/10.1039/D5CS00440C PMid:41364452 PMCid:PMC12688027
Published
Abstract Display: 0
PDF Downloads: 0
PDF Downloads: 0 How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Shubham Sachdeva, Vikramjit Singh , Harwinder Kaur , Fairy, Jitender Singh

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

.