The state of the art in core–shell-type lipid–polymer hybrid nanocarriers and beyond

The emergence of drug delivery systems stems from the need to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs while minimizing their side effects. With the advent of nanotechnology, a wide range of molecular structures, including carbon nanotubes and polymeric materials, have been developed, leading to significant advancements in the field. However, despite these promising outcomes, it is imperative to note that drug delivery systems do not provide a universal solution to all challenges in pharmaceutical technology; as each system possesses certain advantages and limitations. As a result, researchers turned their attention to the creation of new hybrid structures by combining different materials. Among these, lipid–polymer hybrid particles gained considerable attention in the academic community; these particles exhibit a core–shell structure, wherein a polymer core is enveloped by a layer of phospholipids. This manuscript serves as an overview of the fundamental aspects of these molecular architectures, starting with a comprehensive description of lipid–polymer hybrid particles. Subsequently, both conventional and unconventional production methods for fabricating these structures are discussed. The characterization of the physical properties of these particles and their influence on pharmaceutical activity are explored in a subsequent section. Finally, notable examples from the literature are presented. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)