Stilbenes in breast cancer treatment: Nanostilbenes an approach to improve therapeutic efficacy

Abstract

Stilbenes are polyphenolic secondary metabolites abundantly present in the various plant families and having a general structural formula of C₆-C₂-C₆ with two phenyl rings. Major bioactive phytochemicals belonging to stilbenes such as resveratrol, pterostilbene, and piceatannol are extensively studied for their role in the prevention and treatment of different cancers including breast cancer. These stilbenes show their anticancer potential through autophagy by regulating different signaling pathways (such as the PI3K/AKT, RAS/RAF/ERK, PKCδ, and AMPK) and promoting apoptosis. The major limitations in the utilization of these phytochemicals as a therapeutic are their low aqueous solubility and extensive metabolism that leads to poor biopharmaceutical performance in the in vivo systems. To overcome these limitations, nanotechnology emerged as a frontline approach that involved the fabrication of nanoparticulate systems of polymeric/lipidic/inorganic origin to encapsulate the stilbenes category of bioactive phytochemicals as a therapeutic cargo for the prevention and treatment of breast cancers. Nnaostilbenes as a nanoparticulate system are well-designed with the capability for site-specific delivery of loaded bioactives and significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated bioactives. Nanostilbenes in the forms of micelles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanotubes, and nanoparticles have been found to increase biopharmaceutical performance by improving aqueous solubility, decrease rapid degradation/elimination, and enhance cellular uptake at the breast tumor site. The present review provides a comprehensive discussion on biogenesis, chemistry, and biopharmaceutical challenges of different stilbenes. Furthermore, nanostilbenes may provide better efficacy against breast cancer due to improved biopharmaceutical performance of loaded bioactives employing a nanotechnology approach.