Magnetic Liposomes for Theranostic Medicine: Advances in Construction, Medical Applications, and Limitations

Magnetic liposomes (MLs) integrate the drug-loading capacity of liposomes with the magnetic responsiveness of nanoparticles, providing a theranostic platform that combines magnetic targeting, MRI contrast, magnetically triggered release, and magnetic hyperthermia. Preclinical studies have demonstrated these functions, but clinical translation has lagged behind the volume of published work. This review focuses on translation-critical issues in MLs. Structural comparisons (core–shell, embedded, conjugated) are discussed with attention to whether buffer-based structure–property relationships hold in biological fluids. Synthesis methods are compared for size uniformity, encapsulation efficiency, and scalability. Surface modification is assessed with emphasis on ligand density and on the protein corona as a variable modulating ligand accessibility, biomimetic coating function, and magnetothermal heating. Applications are reviewed, including imaging, targeted delivery, controlled release, combination therapy, and gene editing, with attention to thermal dose heterogeneity and the temporal coupling between heating and drug release. Clinical barriers are framed as specific methodological gaps in magnetic field standardization, sterilization, and in vitro–in vivo correlation.