All-Rounder Liposomes in Cancer Immunotherapy: Strategies and Design Applications of Engineered Liposomal Nanomaterials

Abstract

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide, which is responsible for more than 10 million deaths annually. Cancer treatment has traditionally been based on chemotherapy and surgery; however, owing to cytotoxicity, drug resistance, and non-specificity, cancer immunotherapy, which involves using the patient’s own immune system in treatment, has recently gained prominence as a new cancer treatment strategy. Cancer immunotherapy includes strategies such as adoptive T-cell therapy, immune checkpoint blockade, and cancer vaccines, all of which have shown significant anticancer effects. To improve the therapeutic effectiveness and safety and lower the side effects of these strategies, nano- and micro-technologies are being applied to advance the technology. Several studies have reported the use of liposomes (i.e., lipid nanoparticles) in the context of cancer treatment. Liposomes, which are excellent carriers with biocompatibility, amphiphilicity, and drug protection, can be used for passive and active targeting to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize cancer immunotherapy and discusses the strategies and benefits of using various liposomes in cancer immunotherapy.