Impact of nanocarrier mediated drug delivery systems: a deep dive into therapeutics and clinical management of breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. The therapeutic limitations of conventional treatment modalities are due to systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance (MDR), and poor tumor specificity. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and lipid nanocarriers) holds promise for targeted BC therapy by improving bioavailability and reducing adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of established and emerging nanocarriers, including their design, targeting strategies, and clinical translation, as well as approved and clinically investigated systems (Abraxane®, Doxil®) for BC treatment. This review is based on a comprehensive literature search conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering studies published between 2005 and 2025, with inclusion of earlier seminal studies where relevant. Additionally, it highlights current challenges and future perspectives, focusing on large-scale manufacturing, regulatory barriers, and long-term safety considerations. The review also provides subtype-specific analysis of nanocarrier adaptability and discusses long-term safety considerations, including immunogenicity and organ accumulation. It also introduces emerging platforms such as mRNA nanocarriers, bacteria-derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), and artificial intelligence (AI)-optimized nanoparticle systems, with a summary of the integration of nanocarriers with immunotherapies and radiotherapy.