A comprehensive perspective of trastuzumab-based delivery systems for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is acknowledged as the second most prominent contributor to cancer -related fatalities among females. The progression of breast cancer involves several sequential stages that include various types of cells, and the prevention of this condition remains a significant worldwide challenge. Considering the notable progress achieved across the field of breast cancer treatment, a substantial proportion of patients, estimated to be over 50%, experience the development of resistant or refractory disease. As a result, improved anticancer pharmaceuticals with increased efficacy, patient tolerance, and tumor specificity are required. Trastuzumab (Herceptin (R) ) is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is the first clinically attainable oncogene-targeted chemotherapeutic agent in HER -2 (human epidermal -growth -factor receptor 2) positive patients. Trastuzumab has been established as an efficacious and well -tolerated monotherapy for breast cancer patients in several clinical trials, particularly in the second -line or third -line treatment settings. However, similar to several other chemotherapeutics, this treatment causes adverse effects, primarily cardiovascular dysfunctions, which limits its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome these constraints, drug delivery systems (DDSs) based on nanoparticles (NPs) and trastuzumab as a functionalizer have been investigated to modify the improved permeability and retention effect and promote trastuzumab delivery to tumor cells. Trastuzumab-based delivery approaches, such as polymeric, lipid -based, polymer -lipid -based (or hybrid), metal -based (or inorganic), and carbon -based carriers, are discussed in this review. Furthermore, various factors associated with performance activity have been explored to demonstrate the efficacy of this delivery. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the multiple applications of trastuzumab as a targeting ligand, specifically in HER -2 -positive breast tumor cells. This study further clarifies the subject matter 's potential by offering an in-depth review of essential factors, including the size of the NPs, zeta ( zeta) potential, loading efficiency, encapsulation efficiency, and in -vivo and in -vitro characterization of the release profile. The findings characterized here will assist in establishing a more rational approach to anti -breast cancer treatment design.