Immunoliposomes in breast cancer drug delivery: utilizing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

INTRODUCTION: Immunoliposomes (ILs) allow selective interaction with cells by antibodies or their fragments. When associated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), they form immunomagnetoliposomes (IMLs) that enable targeting, drug-release triggers, thermal ablation, and imaging, allowing real-time observation, therapy response, and patient stratification. AREAS COVERED: This study is about the development and application of antibody and fragment conjugates in SPION-loaded liposomes as a multifunctional platform to overcome the disadvantages of conventional therapies for breast cancer (BC), including an overview of clinical trials with ILs and the prospects for IMLs. The databases searched include PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Clinicaltrials.gov, and reports by regulatory agencies, focusing on articles from the period 2015-2026. EXPERT OPINION: IML's advantages do not represent a definitive solution but may partially mitigate the uncertainties associated with BC therapy. Its impact consists of its ability to enable clinical therapies in a controlled, monitored manner. The clinical failures of two of three clinical trials involving antibody-directed liposomes (NCT02833766 and NCT02213744) demonstrate the need for IMLs as versatile systems that more effectively overcome the therapeutic limitations of accumulation and penetration in solid tumors associated with ILs.