Herceptin-Positive Breast Cancer Treatment via Immunoliposomes Triggered by High-Frequency Ultrasound and Microbubbles

Functionalizing chemotherapeutics-loaded liposomes with monoclonal antibodies can enhance their specificity and minimize side effects. Targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), overexpressed in HER2-positive breast cancer, is achievable by coating liposomes with an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody. This study focused on synthesizing doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded immunoliposomes functionalized with anti-HER2 (HER-lip). The release of the drug from these immunoliposomes was triggered by high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and microbubbles, which acted as exogenous cavitation-enhancing agents. The platform was evaluated for size, lipid content, protein concentration, stability, and controlled release profiles. In vitro assessments were also performed, including the MTT assay for cell viability and flow cytometry to evaluate drug uptake. This innovative drug delivery system shows potential for combined therapeutic and diagnostic applications, improving personalized cancer care and treatment.