Emerging phytochemical-based nanocarriers: redefining the perspectives of breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer is recognized as the most prevalent condition impacting women globally, despite several advancements in diagnosis and treatment. Existing therapeutic interventions including surgical procedures, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy often produce harmful effects on healthy tissues, trigger chemo-resistance, and augment the risk of relapse. In response to several unmet challenges, substantial research has been conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of natural compounds for breast cancer therapy. Progress in phytochemistry and pharmacology has facilitated the identification of diverse herbal bioactives with favorable safety profiles and multi-target mechanisms of action against breast cancer cells. Several phytochemicals like flavonoids and tannins have shown significant anticancer potential against breast cancer in diverse preclinical models. However, challenges like limited cellular absorption, low water solubility, and high molecular weight hinder their effective translation into clinical applications. Therefore, the development of novel therapies is imperative for overcoming these hurdles in breast cancer treatment effectively. Nanotechnology has reflected considerable perspective in tackling diverse challenges by encapsulating phytoconstituents within various nanocarriers including polymeric nanoparticles, lipidic nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanogels, gold nanoparticles, and silver nanoparticles. This manuscript emphasizes the recent advancements in phytochemical-loaded nanocarriers efficiently tailored for breast cancer therapy along with patents, current challenges, and future perspectives in this avenue.