Nanocochleates and Drug-Phospholipid Complex: Novel Approaches for Phospholipid Based Oral Delivery of Anti-Cancer Agents

Phospholipids have managed to overcome several challenges, which hampered the therapeutic potential of conventional drug delivery systems. As formulation excipients, phospholipids have become progressively essential. This review intends to summarize the basic characteristics and usefulness of phospholipids in oral delivery systems (viz. nanocochleates and drug-phospholipid complex) to overcome problems relating to the solubility and permeability of anti-cancer agents. The first segment of the review will give insight into nanocochleates, which are cylindrical cigar-like structures that have the ability to deliver hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic drugs. In the second section, we have provided an overview of the phospholipid complex formed because of the interaction between drugs and phospholipids. In a nutshell, our review offers two strategies for boosting the use of phospholipids in the oral delivery of anti-cancer agents, which can help overcome the existing problems and open up new avenues and advances in developing oral drug delivery systems.