Case study, clinical trials, critical analysis and mechanistic overview of conventional and resistant breast cancer treatment using functionalized albumin nanoparticles: a comprehensive review.

Albumin nanoparticles have emerged as a promising drug delivery platform for targeted breast cancer therapy, offering advantages such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and the ability to overcome drug resistance. This comprehensive review critically synthesizes mechanistic evidence, formulation strategies, representative case studies, and clinical outcomes to evaluate functionalized albumin nanoparticles as drug-delivery platforms for conventional and resistant breast cancer. The passive and active targeting capabilities of albumin nanoparticles are discussed, along with various surface modification strategies using ligands like folic acid, transferrin, and monoclonal antibodies to enhance tumor specificity. Various techniques for preparing albumin nanoparticles, such as desolvation, emulsification, thermal gelation, and self-assembly, are also discussed. The application of albumin nanoparticles loaded with different drugs, such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and curcumin, in breast cancer therapy is extensively explored. Notably, the review highlights the potential of albumin nanoparticles to overcome drug resistance mechanisms in breast cancer, such as drug efflux, hypoxia, and apoptosis resistance, through co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and resistance modulators. Recent research studies and clinical outcomes are presented, showcasing the efficacy of albumin-based nano-formulations in breast cancer treatment. FDA-approved nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) demonstrated effectiveness by enhancing progression metrics and survival versus solvent-based paclitaxel, while nab-docetaxel (ABI-008) showed limited benefits. The challenges and future directions in this field are also discussed, emphasizing the need for further optimization and clinical translation of albumin-based nanomedicines. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the mechanistic approach and therapeutic potential of functionalized albumin nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy, underlining their promise as a targeted drug delivery platform.