Nanoparticle-based systems for liver therapy: Overcoming fibrosis and enhancing drug efficacy

CORE TIP: Liver diseases, including fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, represent major global health challenges with limited treatment options, partly due to drug delivery barriers. Therapeutic efficacy is hindered by factors such as portal hypertension, vascular alterations, and particularly the fibrotic microenvironment. This review summarizes the latest advances in nanoparticle-based delivery strategies targeting liver fibrosis, focusing on lipid-based, polymeric, and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). It also explores emerging combinatorial technologies including gene delivery platforms and ultrasound-assisted microbubble systems. Finally, it briefly integrates toxicity issues, translational considerations and artificial intelligence-guided NPs to provide a comprehensive yet focused overview of promising therapeutic avenues.