Nanotechnology-Enabled Platforms for Breast Cancer Therapy: Advances in Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Theranostics

Breast cancer remains a global health burden because of its increasing incidence, molecular heterogeneity, and limited efficacy of conventional therapies. Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative approach in cancer therapy by enabling precise drug delivery, enhancing tumor accumulation, and reducing systemic toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology-based strategies for breast cancer management, including various nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, dendrimers, and quantum dots. We highlight their mechanisms of action, including passive and active targeting, stimuli-responsive drug release, and theranostic capabilities. Furthermore, the manuscript discusses their applications in imaging, gene therapy, and combination therapy. FDA-approved nanodrugs and ongoing clinical trials are summarized to provide translational context. Despite remarkable progress, challenges such as biocompatibility, manufacturing, targeting specificity, and regulatory hurdles remain. Finally, the review explores future directions, including smart nanoplatforms, personalized nanomedicine, and AI-integrated systems, that together hold the potential to revolutionize breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.