Review: Nanocarrier Systems Could Solve Liraglutide's Delivery Challenges | Research

The takeaway

Novel nanocarrier-based delivery systems show promise in overcoming liraglutide's poor oral bioavailability and stability limitations, potentially enabling more effective and convenient treatment.

Multiple nanocarrier platforms
Polymeric, lipid, and hybrid systems all show improved liraglutide delivery in preclinical testing

What the researchers found

Multiple nanocarrier platforms (polymeric, lipid-based, and hybrid systems) have demonstrated improved liraglutide stability, protection from degradation, and enhanced bioavailability in preclinical studies.

Why it matters

Liraglutide requires daily injections, which limits patient compliance and quality of life. Nanocarrier technologies could enable oral delivery or less frequent dosing, making this important medication more accessible and convenient for millions of patients.

The numbers in context

- No specific efficacy numbers reported

- Six nanocarrier platforms reviewed: nanofibers, liposomes, polymeric NPs, exosomes, hydrogels, lipid NPs

How the study worked

Narrative review surveying the scientific literature on liraglutide pharmacology, delivery challenges, and novel nanocarrier-based systems including their mechanisms, advantages, and preclinical performance.

Who was studied

Narrative review of preclinical and in vitro studies on nanocarrier-based liraglutide delivery systems.

What this study cannot tell us

Review article — synthesizes existing literature but generates no new data; most nanocarrier studies are preclinical with limited human data; manufacturing scalability and cost remain significant barriers; regulatory pathway for nano-formulated peptides is complex.

How to read the evidence

Narrative review providing a comprehensive overview of the field. Useful for understanding the landscape but not a systematic evidence synthesis.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, capturing the latest advances in peptide nanocarrier delivery technology.

The bigger picture

The delivery challenges facing liraglutide are shared by virtually all peptide therapeutics. Advances in nanocarrier technology for liraglutide could be adapted for other GLP-1 drugs, insulin, and the growing number of peptide-based medications entering the market.

Questions still open

Which nanocarrier platform is closest to clinical translation for liraglutide oral delivery?
How do nanocarrier-delivered peptides compare in cost to current injectable formulations?
Could nanocarrier approaches eliminate the need for refrigerated storage of peptide drugs?

Common questions

Why can't you just swallow a liraglutide pill?

Liraglutide is a peptide — a small protein — that would be rapidly destroyed by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Nanocarriers are tiny protective shells that can shield the peptide as it passes through the stomach and help it get absorbed into the bloodstream.

What types of nanocarriers are being developed for peptide drugs?

Several types are being explored: polymeric nanoparticles (tiny plastic-like spheres), lipid nanoparticles (fat-based carriers similar to those used in mRNA vaccines), and hybrid systems that combine different materials for optimal protection and delivery.

Read the original research

A comprehensive review on liraglutide and novel nanocarrier-based systems for the effective delivery of liraglutide.

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 398(7), 8241-8258

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Pandey, Ajay; Rath, Goutam; Chawala, Ruchi; Goyal, Amit Kumar. (2025). A comprehensive review on liraglutide and novel nanocarrier-based systems for the effective delivery of liraglutide.. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology, 398(7), 8241-8258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-025-03918-1