Advances in the application of lipid nanocapsules and nanostructured carriers in the treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with limited curative options, particularly in advanced stages. Lipid-based nanocarriers, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms owing to their biocompatibility, versatility, and potential for pulmonary administration. This review highlights recent advances in lipid nanocarriers for lung cancer therapy, with a particular focus on NLCs and LNCs. We discuss key formulation strategies, including solvent-free processes and the use of FDA-approved excipients, as well as advances in drug encapsulation, combination therapies, and surface engineering. We also examine the integration of reverse micelle architectures, which enables the co-encapsulation of hydrophilic and lipophilic agents within a single nanocarrier. Despite encouraging preclinical data, clinical translation of lipid-based nanocarriers, particularly NLCs and LNCs, remains limited due to challenges in large-scale manufacturing, biodistribution variability, rapid clearance, and lack of analytical standardization. We critically examine these barriers and discuss promising solutions such as Quality-by-Design approaches, lung-on-chip models, and advanced characterization tools. Finally, we outline future directions to bridge laboratory innovation and clinical translation, emphasizing the potential of lipid nanocarriers to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient safety in lung cancer treatment.