A Review on Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy: Formulation, Characterization,and Artificial Intelligence Perspectives

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have revolutionized targeted cancer therapy by selectively inhibiting aberrant signaling pathways involved in tumor growth and progression. Despite their clinical success, the majority of TKIs exhibit significant biopharmaceutical limitations, including poor aqueous solubility, low and variable bioavailability, extensive first-pass metabolism, and the development of drug resistance. These challenges often result in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and dose-related toxicity. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), as advanced lipid-based nanocarrier systems, have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations by enhancing drug solubility, improving pharmacokinetics, enabling controlled release, and facilitating targeted delivery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TKIs with emphasis on their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, followed by a detailed discussion on formulation strategies, preparation methods, optimization approaches, and characterization of NLCs. Furthermore, recent advancements in targeted delivery, co-delivery systems, and smart nanocarriers are highlighted. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in
formulation design and optimization is also discussed as a transformative approach in nanomedicine. Finally, challenges associated with clinical translation, regulatory considerations, and future perspectives are critically
addressed. The convergence of nanotechnology and AI holds significant promise for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy and clinical performance of TKI-based therapies.