Nanoparticle-Induced Breast Cancer Cell Death: The Associated Mechanisms of Seven Major Cell Death Pathways in Preclinical Models and a Cross-Validation Model

Breast cancer is among the most common forms of cancer in women worldwide and continues to be a major challenge in medical science and clinical care because of the complexity of its biological nature and common resistance to treatment. Nanoparticles for treating breast cancer are becoming a new-generation approach to induce the death of breast cancer cells because of their favorable physicochemical properties and excellent targeting ability. Recent studies have shown that nanoparticles can significantly increase anticancer activity by activating several cell death mechanisms, such as pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and disulfidptosis. The present review focuses on the molecular processes that lead to cell death in breast cancer models due to nanoparticle exposure. Such mechanisms have also been documented in other solid tumors, suggesting the possible universality of the cell death induced by nanoparticles. In the current review, we systematically summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying the various forms of cell death caused by nanoparticles in breast cancer cells to provide a theoretical background for the translational use of nanotechnology in precise breast cancer treatment and a cross-validation model for future mechanistic research on various types of cancer.