Nanotechnology to Cure Breast Cancer and Obstacles in its Way

Author(s): Ayesha Fazal Nawaz, Atiqa Riaz, Adnan Iqbal, Rizwan Arshad, Sana Shoukat, Shehla Shoukat

Nanomaterials owing to their remarkable pharmaceutical properties and potential to load large quantities of drugs are considered an ideal vector for carrying medicine to the target site. The treatment of breast cancer has been a pressing issue due the use of conventional methods of treatment resulting in many side effects. Nanotechnology offers a more targeted approach in breast cancer treatment. The present review examines the role of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanoparticles in the treatment of breast cancer and the obstacles in the way of nanotechnology in becoming one of the best methods in breast cancer treatment and drug delivery. Use of monoclonal antibody trastuzumab against HER-2 biomarkers by attaching it with nanotubes or nanoparticles is considered the best targeted therapy along with photo thermal ablation. The absence of human tumor models and lack of toxicological assays are the major factors contributing to differences between the preclinical and clinical trial results.