Designing Single-Molecule Nanofiber Therapeutics for Breast Cancer and Biofilm Suppression

Breast carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death among women globally. Conventional treatments are limited by poor targeting, systemic toxicity, and susceptibility to secondary infections, highlighting the need for localized multifunctional therapeutic systems. This study aimed to develop poly(vinyl alcohol)-loaded madecassoside nanofibers (PVA@MAD) as a localized therapeutic platform for breast cancer treatment. Fabricated nanofibers exhibited spider-web-like architecture, swelling behavior, hydrophilicity, degradation, and sustained drug release (∼95% at 72 h under acidic conditions). PVA@MAD showed cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells, with an IC50 value of 49.31 ± 0.010 μg/mL, inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration, indicating antimetastatic potential. In addition, the nanofibers showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Hemocompatibility, brine shrimp, acute, and subacute toxicity studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility. Overall, PVA@MAD nanofibers offer a promising localized therapeutic approach combining anticancer and antibacterial activities for improved breast cancer management.