Folic acid modified precision nanocarriers: charting new frontiers in breast cancer management beyond conventional therapies
Nida Nehal, Aashish Rohilla, Ali Sartaj, Sanjula Baboota, Javed Ali
Abstract
Breast cancer presents a significant global health challenge, ranking highest incidence rate among all types of cancers. Functionalized nanocarriers offer a promising solution for precise drug delivery by actively targeting cancer cells through specific receptors, notably folate receptors. By overcoming the limitations of passive targeting in conventional therapies, this approach holds the potential for enhanced treatment efficacy through combination therapy. Encouraging outcomes from studies like in vitro and in vivo, underscore the promise of this innovative approach. This review explores the therapeutic potential of FA (Folic acid) functionalized nanocarriers tailored for breast cancer management, discussing various chemical modification techniques for functionalization. It examines FA-conjugated nanocarriers containing chemotherapeutics to enhance treatment efficacy and addresses the pharmacokinetic aspect of these functionalized nanocarriers. Additionally, the review integrates active targeting via folic acid with theranostics, photothermal therapy, and photodynamic therapy, offering a comprehensive management strategy. Emphasizing rigorous experimental validation for practical utility, the review underscores the need to bridge laboratory research to clinical application. While these functionalized nanocarriers show promise, their credibility and applicability in real-world settings necessitate thorough validation for effective clinical use.