Jan 2026· International Journal of Breast Cancer· Vol 2026· 3 citations· 88 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Nanoparticle‐based therapies are a unique new frontier in breast cancer therapy, have considerable clinical potential, offer promise for patient‐specific treatment, and warrant further investigation in breast cancer, particularly in advanced targeting mechanisms, multifunctional approaches, and individualized interventions.
Abstract
Breast cancer, one of the leading cancer types, directly contributes to cancer‐related mortality, but new therapies are required to improve treatment efficiency. Nanoparticle‐based strategies have already introduced the most radical advances in this regard, from their first formulation through their development to the next generation as promising candidates. The present review provides an overview of nanoparticle‐based strategies in breast cancer, their development, and their state of the art. The review addresses the diverse formulation of nanoparticles, including liposomes, dendrimers, and metallic nanoparticles, as well as their respective roles in drug delivery: bioavailability, focused therapeutic intervention, and lower systemic toxicity. This review covers studies on the engineering of nanoparticles for improved drug delivery, including cancer‐targeted delivery to tumors and optimization within the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, new nanosized drugs may also be utilized for novel modification of nanoparticle composition for combination therapeutics, which allows pharmacological agents to enter the tumor microenvironment by combined treatment with diverse types of other agents, to provide a synergistic, effective treatment in real time, in addition to real‐time monitoring. Stimuli‐responsive nanoparticles, which release the drug according to the appropriate stimulus signal to provide greater accuracy and regulation in delivering the drug, are also under investigation. This review notes trends in personalized nanomedicine and nanoparticle‐mediated immunotherapy that target personalized patient and immune responses, among others. Other exciting areas for nanoparticle research include AI‐based optimal design and sustainable biodegradable materials aimed at maintaining nanoparticle safety. Nanoparticle‐based therapies are a unique new frontier in breast cancer therapy. They have considerable clinical potential, offer promise for patient‐specific treatment, and warrant further investigation in breast cancer, particularly in advanced targeting mechanisms, multifunctional approaches, and individualized interventions.
This comprehensive review provides details on nanocarriers and their loaded delivery systems as effective strategies for breast cancer treatment and provides an updated synthesis of nanocarrier-based approaches, focusing on recent clinical and preclinical innovations in drug delivery, diagnostics, and personalized medicine.
Prerana Sahu, G. Sahu, Harish Sharma et al.· Current Cancer Therapy Revie...· 0 citations
The recent developments, therapeutic applications, challenges, and future perspectives of Nanoparticle based cancer drug delivery systems are summarized.
H. G, M. K., R. Palaniswamy· International Journal of Cur...· 0 citations
Breast cancer is among the most common cancers globally. While several advancements have been made to improve breast cancer management, there is still a need to find innovative ways to deliver drug therapy to improve efficacy and side effects associated with treatment. Among these methods, local and targeted drug delivery is particularly promising. The current review highlights localized polymer-based methods to effectively deliver breast cancer therapy, with a specific focus on the strengths and limitations of these systems. Injectable and surgically implanted scaffolds, microneedles, topical patches, liquid and semisolid topical drug carriers are amongst some of the delivery systems discussed. Highlighted in the discussion is how physiological changes that occur during breast cancer should be considered and utilized when developing drug formulations, by specifically exploiting the tumor microenvironment. Remaining gaps and future areas for drug delivery research are highlighted including personalized medicine and insights into novel drug delivery systems like nanomedicines and three-dimensional drug printing.
Emma A Kean, Oluwatoyin A. Adeleke· TARGETS· 1 citation
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite substantial advances in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy, are often limited by poor tumor selectivity, systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and inadequate drug accumulation at the disease site. Nanomedicine has emerged as a transformative strategy in oncology, offering innovative solutions for targeted drug delivery, improved pharmacokinetics, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, and reduced off-target toxicity. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, nanoparticles can be engineered to overcome biological barriers associated with tumor progression and facilitate precise delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. This review comprehensively discusses the fundamental principles of cancer nanomedicine, including tumor biology, barriers to drug delivery, and critical design considerations for nanocarrier development. Various classes of nanomaterials, including polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based systems, inorganic nanomaterials, and emerging biomimetic platforms, are examined with respect to their structural characteristics, therapeutic applications, and translational potential. Particular emphasis is placed on tumor-targeting strategies, encompassing passive, active, and microenvironment-responsive approaches, as well as on the development of smart stimuli-responsive nanocarriers capable of controlled, site-specific drug release. Furthermore, recent advances in nanotechnology-enabled chemotherapy, combination therapy, gene and RNA delivery, immuno-nanomedicine, and theranostic platforms are highlighted. The integration of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic functions within multifunctional nanocarriers has enabled real-time monitoring of treatment response and personalized cancer management. In addition, challenges associated with safety, toxicity, large-scale manufacturing, regulatory approval, and clinical translation are critically evaluated. Emerging innovations, including artificial intelligence-driven nanocarrier design, biomimetic nanomedicines, and precision oncology approaches, are also explored as future directions for the field.Overall, cancer nanomedicine has evolved from a simple drug-delivery concept into a multifunctional therapeutic platform integrating targeted therapy, molecular imaging, immunomodulation, gene therapy, and personalized medicine. Continued interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation are expected to accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation nanomedicines, ultimately improving treatment outcomes and advancing precision cancer care.
Fouzan Arif Mulla Mulla, Mo Saad Sanaullah Khan Khan, Irfan Nizamuddin Mansuri Mansuri et al.· Journal of Pharmacology, Gen...· 0 citations
The high resistance to therapy, molecular heterogeneity, early metastasis, and quick drug resistance make triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) difficult and even impossible to treat. The conventional chemotherapy is highly toxic, not specifically targeting the tumor, and has limited efficacy, so more sophisticated delivery mechanisms are required. To overcome these shortcomings, lipid nanotechnology is provided as a controlled, targeted, and multifunctional drug delivery system. This review outlines the recent developments of lipid nanoparticles for TNBC, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, lipidpolymer hybrids, ionizable lipid nanoparticles, and biomimetic vesicles. These systems enable improved tumor targeting and delivery of chemotherapeutics, gene editing agents, and combination therapeutics. Rational design, targeting strategies, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, targeting cancer stem cells, and breaking multidrug resistance are highlighted. Pharmacokinetic, safety, manufacturing, regulatory, and translational issues are discussed, along with pre-clinical and emerging clinical evidence. Lastly, future directions are suggested to help develop modular, precise, and clinically scalable lipid nanoparticle systems for effective management of TNBC.
Issac V. Cherian, Harpreet Kaur, Kamre Aalam et al.· Nano LIFE· 0 citations
Background: Breast cancer remains the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. Although conventional treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are effective, they are confronted with challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, systemic toxicity, and recurrence driven by drug resistance. To overcome these limitations, natural products have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives owing to their multi-target efficacy and favorable biocompatibility. However, their clinical translation is still hindered by poor chemical stability, low aqueous solubility, and inadequate bioavailability. Nanodelivery systems offer a transformative solution by enhancing bioavailability and enabling precision targeting through the enhanced permeation and retention effect, thereby widening the therapeutic window and minimizing off-target toxicity. Purpose: This review evaluates diverse nanoparticle-based delivery systems and their targeting mechanisms in natural product-based breast cancer therapy. By examining inherent advantages and translational challenges, this analysis provides critical insights into the clinical development and application of these nanoformulations. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies on natural product-based nanoformulations for breast cancer therapy. Results: Natural products exert anti-breast cancer effects through mechanisms such as inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting invasion and metastasis, suppressing angiogenesis, and regulating autophagy. To overcome clinical hurdles, three complementary targeting strategies have been developed: passive, active, and stimuli-responsive targeting. These advances are shifting nanomedicines toward active precision therapy, markedly improving the therapeutic index. With multiple formulations already approved or in clinical pipelines, this field is rapidly progressing from laboratory research to clinical implementation. Conclusions: Natural products possess potent anti-breast cancer effects, and the application of nanodelivery technology effectively overcomes their inherent limitations of poor stability and low bioavailability. Although preliminary findings are promising, large-scale, randomized controlled clinical trials are urgently needed to systematically evaluate their safety, efficacy, and practical potential for clinical translation in breast cancer management.
Kai-Yan Su, Yan Li, Dong-mei Zhang et al.· Pharmaceutics· 0 citations
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