Chapter 10 - Advanced drug delivery systems in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the epidemic threats among different cancers in women and technologically advanced approaches have been attempted to overcome breast cancer. Despite conventional therapies being effective, there are several shortcomings, such as undesirable side effects, problems in the bioavailability of some drugs, due to which several advancements have been endeavored for curing breast cancer. Nano-based advanced drug delivery systems possess tumor targeting ability, reduced side effects, high bioavailability, and controlled release of a drug, and thus, became a research hotspot for breast cancer too. Apart from the nano-based delivery system, micro-based delivery system, transdermal patches, microneedles have similarly been well-thought-out strategies. To enhance targeting, some tactics such as surface ligand attachment and use of stimuli-responsive materials have shown promises. This chapter discusses various such advanced delivery systems and briefs about various strategies to deliver anti-breast cancer drugs specifically to breast cancer.