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Updated: Aug 31, 2025
Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases
Published on: August 23, 2024
Receptor-Targeted Surface-Engineered Nanomaterials for Breast Cancer Imaging and Theranostic Applications
Javed Ahmad1, Md Rizwanullah2, Teeja Suthar3
1Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women and the major cause of worldwide cancer-related deaths among women. Various treatment strategies including conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, gene silencing and deliberately engineered nanomaterials for receptor mediated targeted delivery of anticancer drugs, antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors, etc are being investigated by scientists to combat breast cancer. Smartly designed/fabricated nanomaterials are being explored to target breast cancer through enhanced permeation and retention effect; and also, being conjugated with suitable ligand for receptor-mediated endocytosis to target breast cancer for diagnostic, and theranostic applications. These receptor-targeted nanomedicines have shown efficacy to target specific tumor tissue/cells abstaining the healthy tissues/cells from cytotoxic effect of anticancer drug molecules. In the last few decades, theranostic nanomedicines have gained much attention among other nanoparticle systems due to their unique ability to deliver chemotherapeutic as well as diagnostic agents, simultaneously. Theranostic nanomaterials are emerging as novel paradigm with ability for concurrent delivery of imaging (with contrasting agents), targeting (with biomarkers), and anticancer therapeutics with one delivery system (as cancer theranostics) and can transpire as promising strategy to overcome various hurdles for effective management of breast cancer including its most aggressive form, triple-negative breast cancer.
Insights
Nanomaterials offer targeted breast cancer treatment by delivering drugs directly to cancer cells, minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Theranostic nanomaterials combine diagnosis and therapy, showing promise for managing aggressive breast cancers like triple-negative.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women globally.
- Conventional treatments face challenges, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies.
- Nanomaterials offer potential for targeted drug delivery and improved treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of engineered nanomaterials for targeted breast cancer therapy and diagnosis.
- To investigate the potential of receptor-targeted nanomedicines for enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects.
- To highlight the emerging role of theranostic nanomedicines in managing breast cancer, including aggressive subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of smart nanomaterials for enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect.
- Conjugation of nanomaterials with ligands for receptor-mediated endocytosis.
- Simultaneous delivery of chemotherapeutic and diagnostic agents using theranostic nanomedicines.
Main Results:
- Receptor-targeted nanomedicines demonstrate efficacy in targeting specific tumor tissues/cells.
- Nanomedicines successfully abstain healthy tissues/cells from cytotoxic drug effects.
- Theranostic nanomedicines show promise for concurrent imaging, targeting, and therapeutic delivery.
Conclusions:
- Engineered nanomaterials represent a promising strategy for targeted breast cancer management.
- Theranostic nanomedicines offer a novel paradigm for integrated cancer diagnosis and therapy.
- These approaches hold significant potential for overcoming challenges in treating aggressive breast cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer.
