Nanotechnology-mediated delivery of resveratrol as promising strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): progress and promises

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Resveratrol exhibits potential as a therapeutic intervention against TNBC by regulating various pathways such as the PI3K/AKT, RAS/RAF/ERK, PKCδ, and AMPK, leading to apoptosis through ROS-mediated CHOP activationand the expression of DR4 and DR5. However, the clinical efficacy of resveratrol is limited due to its poor biopharmaceutical characteristics and low bioavailability at the tumor site. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach to improving the biopharmaceutical characteristics of resveratrol to achieve clinical efficacy in different cancers. The small dimension (<200 nm) of nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery system is helpful to improve the bioavailability, internalization into the TNBC cell, ligand-specific targeted delivery of loaded resveratrol to tumor site including reversal of MDR (multi-drug resistance) condition.

Areas covered

This manuscript provides a comprehensive discussion on the structure-activity relationship (SAR), underlying anticancer mechanism, evidence of anticancer activity in in-vitro/in-vivo investigations, and the significance of nanotechnology-mediated delivery of resveratrol in TNBC.

Expert opinion

Advanced nano-formulations of resveratrol such as oxidized mesoporous carbon nanoparticles, macrophage-derived vesicular system, functionalized gold nanoparticles, etc. have increased the accumulation of loaded therapeutics at the tumor-site, and avoid off-target drug release. In conclusion, nano-resveratrol as a strategy may provide improved tumor-specific image-guided treatment options for TNBC utilizing theranostic approach.

KEYWORDS:

• Breast cancer
• Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
• resveratrol
• apoptosis
• multifunctional nanoparticles
• theranostics

Article highlights

• Utilization of resveratrol in TNBC treatment

• Structure-activity relationship of resveratrol and its analog

• Underlying mechanism of action of resveratrol and related signaling pathway

• Contemporary research highlights significance of resveratrol in TNBC therapy

• Multifunctional nanoformulation of resveratrol for tumor-specific image-guided therapy

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran University for funding this work under the ‘Research Priorities and Najran Research Funding Program’ grant code (NU/NRP/MRC/12/1).

Additional information

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran University, Saudi Arabia, Grant Number [NU/NRP/MRC/12/1].