Nanomaterials for delivery of drugs and genes to disrupt notch signaling pathway in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer, marked by considerable heterogeneity and intricate molecular subgroups, poses substantial obstacles to therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the existence of tumor-initiating cells (TICs) facilitate treatment resistance, metastasis, and worse prognosis. The Notch signaling system has garnered significant interest for its involvement in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), maintaining tumor-initiating cells (TIC), and facilitating cancer progression, especially in truculent subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Targeting the Notch system represents a promising therapeutic strategy; nevertheless, traditional inhibitors frequently encounter obstacles, including inadequate selectivity and bioavailability. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems provide novel therapeutic strategies to these difficulties by augmenting the targeted delivery of Notch inhibitors and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based nanocarriers, and micelles exhibit promise in delivering Notch inhibitors to neoplastic cells, altering the Notch signaling pathway, and surmounting drug resistance. This review examines recent breakthroughs in nanocarrier systems aimed at the Notch signaling pathway in breast cancer, highlighting the therapeutic potential of integrating nanomedicine with Notch inhibition to disrupt epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor-initiating cells (TICs), and metastasis, thereby enhancing clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Nanocarriers; Notch signaling; Tumor-initiating cells.