Nanotechnology-Enhanced Drug Delivery in Breast Cancer

Nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery in breast cancer therapy harnesses materials engineered at the nanoscale to improve the precision, efficacy and safety of anticancer treatments. By encapsulating chemotherapeutic agents, genetic material or diagnostics within nanoparticles, researchers can address key challenges such as poor bioavailability, systemic toxicity and multidrug resistance. Advances in nanocarriers—including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, mesoporous silica and carbon-based hollow spheres—allow for controlled release triggered by pH, enzymes or external stimuli. Targeting moieties such as peptides, antibodies or aptamers guide these vehicles to tumour cells or the surrounding microenvironment, sparing healthy tissue. Moreover, integration of immunotherapeutic agents, photosensitisers and imaging probes into a single platform underpins the emerging field of nanotheranostics, which combines therapy and diagnostics. These strategies hold promise for treating aggressive subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer, overcoming efflux-mediated drug resistance and enabling real-time monitoring of treatment response. Collectively, these innovations aim to transform global breast cancer care by delivering personalised, less toxic and more effective interventions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Innovative mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been engineered with an inner anionic and outer cationic layering to co-deliver topotecan and quercetin to triple-negative and multidrug-resistant breast cancer models. Surface grafting of a cyclic integrin-binding peptide enhanced tumour-specific uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis, while pH-responsive degradation released the payload selectively within acidic lysosomes, triggering apoptotic cell death and reducing off-target effects. A complementary strategy employed peptide-functionalised liposomes displaying an optimised density of CXCR4-binding ligands. By matching liposomal peptide density to receptor organisation on cancer cell membranes, researchers achieved maximal binding and uptake in triple-negative tumour models, inhibited metastatic spread and modulated gene expression related to migration. These foundational studies demonstrate how precise control of nanoparticle surface chemistry and structure can dramatically improve targeting, intracellular delivery and therapeutic outcomes.

Nanotechnology-Enhanced Drug Delivery in Breast Cancer publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology-enhanced drug delivery in breast cancer across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanocarrier: A nanoscale delivery vehicle designed to transport therapeutic agents selectively to target cells or tissues.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticle: A silica-based particle with nano-sized pores that allow high drug-loading capacity and controlled release.

Photodynamic therapy: A treatment modality using light-activated compounds to generate reactive oxygen species that kill cancer cells.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: Agents that block regulatory proteins such as PD-1 or PD-L1 to enhance the body’s immune response against tumours.

cRGD peptide: A cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptide that binds integrin receptors overexpressed on cancer cells to facilitate targeted delivery.

CXCR4: A chemokine receptor frequently upregulated in breast cancer, serving as a target for ligand-functionalised nanoparticles.

References

1. Advances of medical nanorobots for future cancer treatments. Journal of Hematology & Oncology (2023).
2. Novel Combination Therapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer based on an Intelligent Hollow Carbon Sphere. Research (2023).
3. Recent advances in nanotheranostics for triple negative breast cancer treatment. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research (2019).
4. Drug Resistance in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Tumor Targeted Nanomedicine to the Rescue. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
5. Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Nanosolutions for a Big Challenge. Advanced Science (2015).
6. Targeting Engineered Nanoparticles for Breast Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics (2021).
7. Peptide density targets and impedes triple negative breast cancer metastasis. Nature Communications (2018).