Phytochemicals and Nanotechnology: A Powerful Combination against Breast Cancer

Considerable advancements have been made in breast cancer therapeutics in the past few decades. However, the advent of chemo-resistance and adverse drug reactions coupled with tumor metastasis and recurrence posed a serious threat to combat this lethal disease. Novel anti-cancer agents, as well as new therapeutic strategies, are needed to complement conventional breast cancer therapies. The quest for developing novel anti-cancer drugs caused an upsurge in exploring and harnessing natural compounds, especially phytochemicals. Various research groups have explored and documented the anti-cancer potential of wide variety of phytochemical groups including flavonoids (curcumin, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, naringenin, apigenin, genistein epigallocatechin gallate), stilbenes (resveratrol), carotenoids (crocin, lycopene, lutein), and anthraquinone (Emodin). However, low chemical stability, poor water solubility, and short systemic half-life impede their clinical utility. The implication of nano-technological approaches to decode the pharmacokinetic challenges associated with phytochemical usage, as well as selective drug targeting, have markedly enhanced the pre-clinical anti-cancer activity, thus aiding in their clinical translation. This review documented the recent advances in utilizing phytochemicals for breast cancer prevention and lipid-based nanotechnological approaches for circumventing their pharmacokinetic concerns to enhance their systemic availability, cytotoxicity, and targeted delivery against breast cancer alone as well as in combination with conventional therapeutic agents.