Emerging Applications of Nanoparticles in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, driving the urgent need for innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment. This review highlights the pivotal role of nanoparticles in revolutionizing breast cancer management through advancements of interconnected approaches including targeted therapy, imaging, and personalized medicine. Nanoparticles, with their unique physicochemical properties, have shown significant promise in addressing current treatment limitations such as drug resistance and nonspecific systemic distribution. Applications range from enhancing drug delivery systems for targeted and sustained release to developing innovative diagnostic tools for early and precise detection of metastases. Moreover, the integration of nanoparticles into photothermal therapy and their synergistic use with existing treatments, such as immunotherapy, illustrate their transformative potential in cancer care. However, the journey towards clinical adoption is fraught with challenges, including the chemical feasibility, biodistribution, efficacy, safety concerns, scalability, and regulatory hurdles. This review delves into the current state of nanoparticle research, their applications in breast cancer therapy and diagnosis, and the obstacles that must be overcome for clinical integration.

Keywords: biomarkers; breast cancer; diagnostics; nanomedicine; theragnostics; theranostics; therapeutics; tumor.

Figure 1

Diagram of conventional and nanoparticle-based approaches in breast cancer diagnosis. IONPs: Iron oxide nanoparticles, SPIOs: superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, PET: positron emission tomography, CT: computed tomography, NPs: nanoparticles.

Figure 2

Diagram of selected nanoparticle-based strategies for breast cancer treatment. This diagram showcases various innovative nanoparticle formulations aimed at targeted treatment and imaging of breast cancer. It highlights the use of mesoporous nanoparticles, ionizable lipid nanoparticles, and targeted liposomes, each designed to optimize drug delivery, minimize toxicity, and enhance diagnostic accuracy. NIR: near-infrared radiation, EpCAM: epithelial cell adhesion molecule.