Advanced Phytochemical-Based Nanocarrier Systems for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Breast cancer is a concern for the healthcare system. Even with the advancement of science and technology, the current system for therapeutics and diagnostics seems to have numerous pitfalls. Phytochemical-mediated nanocarriers come into the picture to outrange the drawbacks of the conventional breast cancer management method. Phytochemicals have been a useful tool since time immemorial, and developing a sophisticated fusion of these chemicals with nanocarrier enhanced its effectiveness. This ensures targeted, time-controlled drug delivery. This article emphasizes the development of phytochemical-based nanocarriers corresponding to breast cancer. Moreover, the article presents the unhighlighted parts of the therapeutical industry to help patients. Enhancing patients’ quality of life would uplift the healthcare system. ABSTRACT: As the world’s most prevalent cancer, breast cancer imposes a significant societal health burden and is among the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide. Despite the notable improvements in survival in countries with early detection programs, combined with different modes of treatment to eradicate invasive disease, the current chemotherapy regimen faces significant challenges associated with chemotherapy-induced side effects and the development of drug resistance. Therefore, serious concerns regarding current chemotherapeutics are pressuring researchers to develop alternative therapeutics with better efficacy and safety. Due to their extremely biocompatible nature and efficient destruction of cancer cells via numerous mechanisms, phytochemicals have emerged as one of the attractive alternative therapies for chemotherapeutics to treat breast cancer. Additionally, phytofabricated nanocarriers, whether used alone or in conjunction with other loaded phytotherapeutics or chemotherapeutics, showed promising results in treating breast cancer. In the current review, we emphasize the anticancer activity of phytochemical-instigated nanocarriers and phytochemical-loaded nanocarriers against breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Since diverse mechanisms are implicated in the anticancer activity of phytochemicals, a strong emphasis is placed on the anticancer pathways underlying their action. Furthermore, we discuss the selective targeted delivery of phytofabricated nanocarriers to cancer cells and consider research gaps, recent developments, and the druggability of phytoceuticals. Combining phytochemical and chemotherapeutic agents with nanotechnology might have far-reaching impacts in the future.