Nanotechnology-based drug delivery for breast cancer treatment: Current applications and future directions

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide. Limited specificity, systemic toxicity, risk of recurrence, and drug resistance are some of the drawbacks of traditional BC treatment approaches. Therefore, it is crucial to develop more effective, safe, and customized management plans for BC. The application of nanoparticle-based systems, such as liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric micelles, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and hybrid nanoparticles, has drawn significant interest in BC treatment. Nanomedicine can enhance the efficacy of drugs through active targeting, better tissue penetration, and more efficient tumor suppression via improved retention and permeability. Additionally, gene delivery using hybrid and theranostic nanomedicine has also been explored in BC treatment. Numerous nanomedicines have been used clinically for the treatment of breast cancer, some of which have already received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval. Here, we focus on nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches for BC treatment and highlighted their enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects. In addition, we have also explored on the possible utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) nanomedicine and bioinspired nanocarriers for BC treatment, which could pave the way for more precise, effective, and personalized therapies by improving nanoparticle design, optimizing drug delivery systems, and leveraging big data analytics.