Advancement of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles in targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy

A lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle (LPHNP) is a drug delivery vehicle specifically designed for incorporating hydrophobic lipids and hydrophilic polymers into a single system. These hybrid nanoparticles are synthesized from a variety of methods including one-step or a two -step approach based on the desired structure of lipids and polymers construct themselves into an integrated delivery agent through self assembly. This hybrid system offers more advantages than their equivalent individual nanoparticle such as the ability to tune the particle size, loading wide range of drugs into them, extending circulation time, biocompatibility, controlled and sustained release with in vitro stability. The LPHNP extends their role to co-deliver two drugs in combination, nucleic acids, peptides, active and passive targeted drug deliveries apart from usual single drug delivery. This review summarizes the scope of the hybrid system bringing out different types, various modes of synthesis and the factors involved in designing an efficient system along with their applications in cancer therapeutics.