Nanoparticles Targeting and Uptake: Current Advances in Breast Cancer Research

Abstract

With the rapid advancement, nanoparticles (NPs) based drug delivery systems have been recognized as expedient over traditional therapeutics for breast cancer, fostering targeted drug release, long circulation time, reduced toxicity, and greater bioavailability. Under normal circumstances when this exogenous structure of nano-scale dimension approaches nearby cells, it evokes early tripping leading to membrane wrapping and NPs cellular uptake. Tailoring NPs structure for safe and intended entry into cells is at the core of nano-therapeutics for attaining high-yield prognostic and therapeutic efficacy. Interestingly NPs uptake is crucial as it unravels pathway selection and is decisive for the intracellular fate of nano-medicine. Over the past, it remained a major challenge to target specifically to improve their delivery. A significant effort has been devoted to understanding the endocytosis of nano-medicine for efficient intracellular delivery of NPs. Here we present an overview of the different endocytic pathways used by cells. Novel strategies in NPs design to exploit the uptake mechanisms to decipher intended uptake and target breast cancer. Current advances and strategies are deployed to breach these barriers and attain the ultimate vision of nano-carriers in diagnostics and therapeutics.