Overview of drug-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles in lung cancer therapy

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, responsible for over a million deaths each year. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, current treatments are limited by drug resistance, systemic toxicity, and lack of tumor specificity, leading to poor outcomes. Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a promising approach to address these issues by improving drug solubility, stability, bioavailability, and tumor-specific delivery. Among various biomolecules, lactoferrin (LF), a natural iron-binding glycoprotein, has attracted attention due to its multifunctional properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities. LF nanoparticles offer several therapeutic benefits, including high biocompatibility, receptor-mediated uptake, and the ability to cross biological barriers, thereby enabling the efficient and safe delivery of anticancer agents. This review discusses the pathophysiology of LC, the structural and biological characteristics of LF, methods for preparing LF nanoparticles, and recent applications of drug-loaded LF systems, while also addressing current challenges and future directions in lung cancer therapy. • Lactoferrin nanoparticles provide selective targeting for lung cancer therapy. • LF-based nanocarriers enhance drug uptake and reduce systemic toxicity. • Receptor-mediated delivery improves therapeutic efficiency in lung cancer. • Hybrid LF nanosystems overcome drug resistance and boost anticancer effects. • LF nanoplatforms show promise for safer and more effective lung cancer treatment.