Ligand-Functionalized Liposomes Advance Targeted Nanotherapeutics for Breast Cancer, Enhancing Precision and Safety

Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most prevalent and challenging malignancies globally, characterized by significant molecular heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and high recurrence rates. These factors severely limit the long-term success of conventional treatments. While chemotherapy and existing targeted therapies have improved patient outcomes, their efficacy is often compromised by systemic off-target toxicity, poor tumor selectivity, and the development of multidrug resistance. Liposomal nanocarriers offer advantages by improving drug stability and circulation, and enhancing passive tumor accumulation through the EPR effect (Enhanced Permeability and Retention). However, conventional liposomes frequently exhibit limited cellular internalization and inadequate tumor penetration, underscoring a critical need for more sophisticated, actively targeted delivery systems to overcome these inherent limitations and improve therapeutic precision.