Work

Extracellular Vesicles as Emerging Drug Delivery Platforms in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being the most aggressive subtype. The lack of standard targeted therapies necessitates reliance on chemotherapy, which often suffers from poor targeting and significant off-target toxicity. This systematic review evaluates the therapeutic potential of drug delivery systems based on extracellular vesicles (EVs) for TNBC using 17 studies from 2020 to 2024 published in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. The review discusses the diverse therapeutic cargos delivered by EVs, including chemotherapeutic agents and nucleic acids, while emphasizing the need for standardized protocols to facilitate EV isolation and characterization. Key findings provide both in vitro and in vivo evidence of the efficacy of EV-based therapies against TNBC cell lines and animal models, alongside insights into engineering strategies that enhance targeting specificity. Despite the promising findings, challenges remain in clinical translation, such as technical limitations and inconsistent reporting. The results underscore the potential of EVs to revolutionize TNBC treatment strategies, paving the way for more effective therapeutic options.

Source: International Journal of Nanomedicine

DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s570252

Authors: Jiao Tian, Yun Zhi Chin, Min Hwei Ng, Kok Lun Pang, Jia Xian Law

Institutions: Zunyi Medical and Pharmaceutical College, National University of Malaysia, IMU University, Monash University Malaysia

Language: English

Topic: Extracellular vesicles in disease

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836