Overview of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), composed of ionized lipids, helper lipids, and cholesterol, provide general therapeutic effects by facilitating intracellular transport and avoiding endosomal compartments. LNP-based drug delivery has great potential for the development of novel gene therapies and effective vaccines. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are derived from physiologically acceptable lipid components and remain robust at body temperature, thereby providing high structural stability and biocompatibility. By enhancing drug delivery through blood vessels, SLNs have been used to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments. Breast cancer, the most common malignancy in women, has a declining mortality rate but remains incurable. Recently, as an anticancer drug delivery system, SLNs have been widely used in breast cancer, improving the therapeutic efficacy of drugs. In this review, we discuss the latest advances of SLNs for breast cancer treatment and their potential in clinical use.

Keywords: breast cancer; cancer therapy; drug delivery; solid lipid nanoparticle.

Figure 1

Schematic drug loading models of SLNs; solid solution model, drug-enriched shell model, and drug-enriched core model. The solid solution model mainly consists of a dispersed drug in the solid lipid matrix and also has a high lipophilic interaction. In a drug-enriched shell model, the encapsulated drug is located in the outer shell and conversely, the drug-enriched core model shows the concentrated drug in the core. These drug distribution models are distinguished by their preparation methods and can be chosen for specific purposes in terms of size, characteristics, and release of the drug.

Figure 2

Role of SLN-tamoxifen in tamoxifen-resistant cancer. Tamoxifen induces apoptosis of cancer cells via activating P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and inhibiting complex I-III in mitochondria. Complex I–III are mitochondria electron transport complex mediating ATP synthesis. However, P-gp is also known as a representative drug efflux transporter. In tamoxifen-resistant cancer cells, P-gp overexpression enhances drug efflux activity rather than the antitumor effect. SLN-tamoxifen overcomes resistance by delivering drugs directly to cytosol and inhibiting expression of anti-apoptotic genes.