Polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Breast cancer is a leading death cause in women globally. Since therapeutic products do not yet approach the tumor tissue at adequate levels; therefore, nanoparticle-based chemotherapy has been explored nowadays. Implementing nanotechnology to the treatment of breast cancer renders chemotherapy very successful and efficacious but far less toxic. In this review article, literature about polymeric nanoparticles applications in breast cancer was retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases. This review paper briefly addresses molecular targets in breast cancer's pathophysiology, drawbacks of current therapies for breast cancer, and polymeric nanoparticles as an evolving breast cancer chemotherapy that includes benefits, critical characteristics, and passive and active tumor targeting via polymeric nanoparticles. An outline of progression in polymeric nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment reports in current publications; patents available and clinical trials conducted for breast cancer in the last few years have been reviewed briefly.