Ligand-mediated targeting represents the cutting edge in precision-guided therapy for several diseases. Surface engineering of nanomedicines with ligands exhibiting selective or tailored affinity for overexpressed biomolecules of a specific disease may increase therapeutic efficiency and reduce side effects and recurrence. This review focuses on newly developed approaches and strategies to improve treatment and overcome the mechanisms associated with breast cancer resistance.

Aims: Develop and analyze triple-negative breast cancer targeted nanoparticles loaded with the demethylating agent decitabine. Materials & methods: The polymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of D,l-lactide and formulated into nanoparticles via emulsion-evaporation method. The nanoparticles were characterized by physicochemical analysis as well as in vitro using breast cancer cell lineages. Results & conclusion: The targeted nanoparticles exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of 75 ± 12 nm, zeta potential -6.3 ± 0.2 mV and spherical morphology, and displayed greater in vitro accumulation into MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative breast cancer cell-line) compared with MCF7 and HB4A cell lineages as verified by fluorescence confocal microscopy and significant demethylating effects via ADAM33 screening by PCR.