Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoplatforms for triple-negative breast cancer: current progress, advances, and...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype with the poorest prognosis and the highest recurrence rates. PLGA nanoplatforms show great potential as delivery systems for treating aggressive TNBC. A wide variety of nanoplatforms have been developed and evaluated for potential use in TNBC imaging and treatment. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer used in the design of various types of nanoplatforms. PLGA is FDA approved and enables the encapsulation of multiple anticancer agents for targeted, sustained release. By incorporating various functional elements into PLGA or PLGA nanoplatforms, enhanced tumour targeting and diagnostic capabilities can be achieved. The interior space or surface of PLGA can be used to adsorb hydrophobic or hydrophilic drug molecules. This review examines recent developments in the design of PLGA nanoformulations that mimic biological barriers to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of anticancer drugs against TNBC. Structural engineering significantly affects drug delivery capabilities. The current review provides insights into the pathophysiological pathways of TNBC, encompassing the pharmacokinetic challenges of current treatment strategies. The primary focus of this review is to collate and discuss novel PLGA based drug delivery strategies, the biocompatibility of PLGA, the significance of combination therapies, clinical relevance, and FDA approval. We also present the mechanisms underlying multidrug resistance and systemic toxicity, and discuss how smart responsive systems can be used to overcome these barriers. In addition, we emphasize the challenges posed by regulatory guidelines for TNBC and PLGA, as well as scale-up and reproducibility issues. The PLGA based drug delivery approaches are also reviewed in the context of recent preclinical and clinical studies. Future research and development in this domain may focus on critical aspects such as AI guided design and multifunctional systems, integration with precision medicine and personalized therapy, and combination with immunotherapy to enhance the efficacy and safety of PLGA based delivery systems.