Drug Delivery Systems for Breast Cancer Treatment: From Design Principles to Clinical Translation
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of General Medecine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- 2Cristofor Simionescu Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, 700050 Iasi, Romania
- 3Faculty of Medicine, Apollonia University of Iasi, 700055 Iasi, Romania
- 4Academy of Romanian Scientists, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Despite advances in screening, molecular classification, and systemic therapies, treatment of advanced and metastatic disease remains challenging because of tumor heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, systemic toxicity, limited drug selectivity, and inadequate penetration into the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to critically evaluate advanced drug delivery systems (DDSs) for breast cancer therapy, emphasizing the relationship between carrier design, tumor biology, therapeutic performance, and clinical translation. Methods: The recent literature on DDSs for breast cancer treatment was comprehensively reviewed, covering liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles and micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, lipid- and inorganic-based nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, biomimetic platforms, and stimuli-responsive systems. Particular attention was given to active and passive targeting, controlled drug release, strategies for overcoming multidrug resistance and biological barriers, and combination approaches integrating chemotherapy with immunotherapy, gene therapy, and phototherapy. Clinically approved and clinical-stage nanomedicines were also considered. Results: Advanced DDSs can improve drug stability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tumor accumulation, cellular uptake, and controlled release, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Targeted, biomimetic, and stimuli-responsive platforms provide additional opportunities to address tumor heterogeneity, the tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic resistance. Several DDS-based nanomedicines have reached clinical use or advanced clinical development, demonstrating their translational potential. However, manufacturing scalability, reproducibility, long-term safety, regulatory requirements, and patient heterogeneity remain important barriers. Conclusions: Advanced DDSs represent promising tools for improving the precision and efficacy of breast cancer treatment. Future progress will require biologically informed carrier design, reproducible manufacturing, rigorous clinical validation, and patient stratification. Integrating nanomedicine with precision oncology may accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation DDSs and support more effective personalized therapeutic strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{sescu2026drug,
title = {{Drug Delivery Systems for Breast Cancer Treatment: From Design Principles to Clinical Translation}},
author = {Vasile Adrian Sescu and Iustina Petra Solomon Condriuc and Liana Gabriela Spridon and Anca Niculina Cadinoiu and Lucian Miron and Leonard Ionut Atanase and Roxana Daniela Matasariu and Demetra Gabriela Socolov and Alexandru Carauleanu},
journal = {Cancers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/cancers18203393},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3393},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Drug Delivery Systems for Breast Cancer Treatment: From Design Principles to Clinical Translation
AU - Vasile Adrian Sescu
AU - Iustina Petra Solomon Condriuc
AU - Liana Gabriela Spridon
AU - Anca Niculina Cadinoiu
AU - Lucian Miron
AU - Leonard Ionut Atanase
AU - Roxana Daniela Matasariu
AU - Demetra Gabriela Socolov
AU - Alexandru Carauleanu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Cancers
DO - 10.3390/cancers18203393
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/20/3393
AB - Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Despite advances in screening, molecular classification, and systemic therapies, treatment of advanced and metastatic disease remains challenging because of tumor heterogeneity, multidrug resistance, systemic toxicity, limited drug selectivity, and inadequate penetration into the tumor microenvironment. This review aims to critically evaluate advanced drug delivery systems (DDSs) for breast cancer therapy, emphasizing the relationship between carrier design, tumor biology, therapeutic performance, and clinical translation. Methods: The recent literature on DDSs for breast cancer treatment was comprehensively reviewed, covering liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles and micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, lipid- and inorganic-based nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, biomimetic platforms, and stimuli-responsive systems. Particular attention was given to active and passive targeting, controlled drug release, strategies for overcoming multidrug resistance and biological barriers, and combination approaches integrating chemotherapy with immunotherapy, gene therapy, and phototherapy. Clinically approved and clinical-stage nanomedicines were also considered. Results: Advanced DDSs can improve drug stability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, tumor accumulation, cellular uptake, and controlled release, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Targeted, biomimetic, and stimuli-responsive platforms provide additional opportunities to address tumor heterogeneity, the tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic resistance. Several DDS-based nanomedicines have reached clinical use or advanced clinical development, demonstrating their translational potential. However, manufacturing scalability, reproducibility, long-term safety, regulatory requirements, and patient heterogeneity remain important barriers. Conclusions: Advanced DDSs represent promising tools for improving the precision and efficacy of breast cancer treatment. Future progress will require biologically informed carrier design, reproducible manufacturing, rigorous clinical validation, and patient stratification. Integrating nanomedicine with precision oncology may accelerate the clinical translation of next-generation DDSs and support more effective personalized therapeutic strategies.
SN - 2072-6694
ER -