Nanomaterials: breaking the bottleneck of breast cancer drug resistance

Front Immunol. 2024 Nov 13:15:1492546. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1492546. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Drug resistance poses a significant challenge in the treatment of breast cancer. In recent years, a variety of nanomaterials have been discovered and synthesized that can selectively target tumor cells and play a crucial role in the advancement of breast cancer therapies. As our understanding of tumor heterogeneity deepens, the emerging potential of nanomaterials in addressing drug resistance has garnered considerable attention. These materials not only selectively target tumor cells but also possess unique properties that make them promising options for cancer treatment, including low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, ease of preparation, the ability to carry antitumor drugs, and customizable surface functions. In this review, we will comprehensively summarize two key developments in breast cancer treatment: the application of antitumor drugs and nanomaterials. We will explore the mechanisms by which nanomaterials improve drug resistance in breast cancer, targeted nanotherapy strategies to mitigate this resistance, and recent research advancements in anticancer nanomaterials. This overview aims to highlight the significant role of nanomaterials in breast cancer treatment and provide a theoretical framework for identifying optimal treatment strategies in the future.

Keywords: anticancer drugs; breast cancer; drug resistance; nanomaterials; targeted therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nanomedicine / methods
  • Nanostructures* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program Project, China Medical University and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2022-MS-180).