Sorafenib tosylate (SFB) is a multikinase inhibitor that inhibits tumour growth and proliferation for the management of breast cancer but is also associated with issues like toxicity and drug resistance. Also, being a biopharmaceutical class II (BCS II) drug, its oral bioavailability is the other challenge. Henceforth, this report intended to encapsulate SFB into a biocompatible carrier with biodegradable components, i.e., phospholipid. The microemulsion of the SFB was prepared and characterized for the surface charge, morphology, micromeritics and drug release studies. The cell viability assay was performed on 4T1 cell lines and inferred that the IC50 value of sorafenib-loaded microemulsion (SFB-loaded ME) was enhanced compared to the naïve SFB at the concentrations of about 0.75 µM. More drug was available for the pharmacological response, as the protein binding was notably decreased, and the drug from the developed carriers was released in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic studies established that the developed nanocarrier was suitable for the oral administration of a drug by substantially enhancing the bioavailability of the drug to that of the free SFB. The results bring forth the preliminary evidence for the future scope of SFB as a successful therapeutic entity in its nano-form for effective and safer cancer chemotherapy via the oral route.

: Breast cancer is the leading cause of deaths worldwide among women. Taxanes (most propitious class of diterpenes) have shown dynamic potentials in the treatment of early and metastatic breast cancer. However, challenges like poor bioavailability, low tissue-permeability, compromised aqueous solubility, and dose-dependent side-effects limit the clinical applications of these drugs. Henceforth, to overcome these challenges, various nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are being explored for the delivery of taxanes in the management of breast cancer. One such promising nanocarrier category is lipid-based nanocarriers, which employ the meritorious features of a variety of lipids, both of natural and synthetic origin. It is also known that lipid uptake plays a significant role in breast cancer cells proliferation and tumor genesis. However, lipid-based nanocarriers could be a great choice to nanoencapsulate the poorly soluble and permeable taxanes for breast cancer management. These systems have an immense promise of bioavailability enhancement, spatial and temporal taxane delivery, improved efficacy, reduced dosing frequency, and even mild inhibition of the P-gp efflux mechanism. Apart from these promises, these carriers are not yet available for the benefit of the end-user. The present review will not only discuss the merits, progress, and promises of these systems but also ponder upon the various challenges faced by these carriers to reach the clinics for the benefit of the patients afflicted with breast cancer.

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