Exploring the Potential of Mitochondria-Targeted Drug Delivery for Enhanced Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer stands as the utmost prevalent malignancy in women, impacting the epithelial tissue of the breast and often displaying resistance to effective treatment due to its diverse molecular and histological features. Current treatment modalities may exhibit decreasing efficacy over time and can lead to disease progression. The mitochondria, a crucial organelle responsible for cellular metabolism and energy supply, stand highly sensitive to both heat and reactive oxygen species, presenting an assuring target for photodynamic and photothermal therapies (PTTs) in cancer cure. The employment of nanodrug carriers for combination deliveries holds promise in addressing challenges related to drug degradation and off-target toxicity. By circumventing the reticuloendothelial system, nanocarriers bolster the drug's bioavailability at the intended site and ensure controlled codelivery of multiple drugs, thereby maintaining the normal pharmacokinetic features and the regular pharmacodynamic characteristics of different therapeutic mechanisms. The precision and efficacy of this innovative technology have revolutionized drug delivery, substantially enhancing treatment effectiveness. In the pursuit of targeting mitochondrial modifications in cancer cells, various combination therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), PTT, and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) have been explored. These therapies have improved the efficiency of mitochondria-targeted cancer treatment due to their advantageous properties of minimal toxicity, noninvasiveness, reduced drug resistance, and a safer profile. Our review article provides an exhaustive overview of alterations in the mitochondrial environment in BC, their impact on BC development, potential mitochondrial targets for BC treatment, nanotherapeutic approaches for targeting mitochondria, and the limitations of these approaches.