Formulation and Characterization of PEGylated Liposomes as a Targeted Delivery System for the Chemotherapy Drug Doxorubicin

putri tri hartini (Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, Indonesia)
Arbayah (Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia)
Ziza Putri Aisyia Fauzi (Universitas Muslim Nusantara Al-Washliyah, Indonesia)
Fendy Prasetyawa (Universitas Kadiri, Indonesia)
Revan Busriano Putra (STIKes Ranah Minang, Indonesia)

Fundamental and Applied Research in Medicine and Allied Sciences Indonesia
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): May, 2026

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer agent, but its clinical use is limited by severe systemic toxicity. This study developed and optimized PEGylated liposomes containing DOX to improve therapeutic efficacy and safety. Liposomes were prepared using thin-film hydration and active loading via an ammonium sulfate gradient, and optimized using a Box-Behnken Design. The optimized formulation showed a particle size of ~112 nm, high encapsulation efficiency (94.7%), good stability, and pH-responsive drug release, with greater release under acidic conditions. In vitro studies demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells compared to free DOX. The formulation also remained stable for 6 months under ICH conditions. Overall, DOX-loaded PEGylated liposomes exhibited favorable physicochemical characteristics, improved anticancer activity, and strong potential as a targeted nanocarrier for breast cancer therapy.