Trends in iron oxide nanoparticles: a nano-platform for theranostic application in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the deadliest malignant disorder globally, with a significant mortality rate. The development of tolerance throughout cancer treatment and non-specific targeting limits the drug’s response. Currently, nano therapy provides an interdisciplinary area for imaging, diagnosis, and targeted drug delivery for BC. Several overexpressed biomarkers, proteins, and receptors are identified in BC, which can be potentially targeted by using nanomaterial for drug/gene/immune/photo-responsive therapy and bio-imaging. In recent applications, magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have shown tremendous attention to the researcher because they combine selective drug delivery and imaging functionalities. IONs can be efficaciously functionalised for potential application in BC therapy and diagnosis. In this review, we explored the current application of IONs in chemotherapeutics delivery, gene delivery, immunotherapy, photo-responsive therapy, and bio-imaging for BC based on their molecular mechanism. In addition, we also highlighted the effect of IONs’ size, shape, dimension, and functionalization on BC targeting and imaging. To better comprehend the functionalization potential of IONs, this paper provides an outline of BC cellular development. IONs for BC theranostic are also reviewed based on their clinical significance and future aspects.

Graphical Abstract

HIGHLIGHTS

• Current Breast cancer treatment resists due to the development of drug tolerance throughout cancer treatment and non-specific drug targeting.

• Magnetic IONs are being utilised for the therapy and bio-imaging of breast cancer by targeting overexpressed biomarkers, proteins, and receptors in breast cancer progression.

• Physical properties of IONs, such as size, shape, and dimensions, also alter their therapeutic and imaging responses.

• Iron oxide nanoparticles can be efficaciously functionalised based on breast cancer molecular mechanisms for potential application in breast cancer drug delivery, gene delivery, immunotherapy, photo responsive therapy, and bio-imaging.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• iron oxide nanoparticles
• molecular targeting
• immunotherapy
• gene delivery
• photo responsive therapy
• bio-imaging

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the management of the Sikhsa ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, India, for providing the essential infrastructure and facilities to complete this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

We are thankful to the Science and Engineering Research Board, department of science and technology, New Delhi, India, for the financial support of the core research grant (CRG/2021/005540) to carry out this work.