Albumin-based nanodevices for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy

Since, after the successful approval of albumin-based nanodrug Abraxane by food and drug administration (FDA) in 2005, considerable interests have been gained by protein-based nanoparticles in the field nanomedicine for cancer therapy. In recent years, various protein-based nanodevices have been developed; amid them, serum albumin as an intrinsic constituent of blood with no immunogenicity and toxicity regarded as an ideal tool to cargo and deliver diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to breast cancer cells simultaneously, named as theranostic. Serum albumin-based nanodevices are commonly loaded or conjugated with near infrared (NIR dyes), contrast agents, radionuclides, photosensitizers and organic or inorganic nanoclusters and chemotherapeutic agents. In general, serum albumin nanodevices offer several advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, prolonged blood circulation, escape clearance by macrophages and surface modification with drugs or targeted ligand. Moreover, it can be easily prepared without using any toxic organic solvent or chemical agents. In addition, the nanoscale size of devices also facilitates the deep penetration into tumor tissue. This mini-review embodies general overview of albumin and its properties, tumor targeting mechanism and designed formulations, along with their applications in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy from the recent literature. Finally, the current challenges and future perspective are identified for translating serum albumin-based nanodevices from laboratory to clinical application.

Automated summary

Since the approval of Abraxane, an albumin-based nanodrug, by the FDA in 2005, protein-based nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in the field of nanomedicine for cancer therapy. Serum albumin-based nanodevices, loaded with various diagnostic and therapeutic agents, offer several advantages such as biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, and targeted delivery to breast cancer cells. This mini-review provides an overview of albumin and its properties, tumor targeting mechanisms, designed formulations, and their applications in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy.