Polymeric Micelles in Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy：Recent Advances and Future Trends

Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of death among women worldwide. Traditional chemotherapy often faces challenges such as drug resistance, off-target effects leading to severe side effects, and the poor solubility and bioavailability of cytotoxic agents; however, advancements in nanoformulations offer promising solutions to these issues. Polymeric micelles (PMs) composed of amphiphilic block copolymers have gained significant attention due to their ability to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs and target specific sites through active and passive mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the unique properties of PMs compared to other formulations, outlining their advantages and disadvantages. We also explore various formulation methods and investigate stimuli-responsive PMs (pH, enzyme, redox, and temperature) for treating BC, alongside passive (via enhanced permeability and retention effect) and active targeting strategies. In preclinical and clinical settings, PMs have shown potential to improve drug delivery efficiency, target precision, and minimize systemic toxicity. Future studies should focus on improving these aspects to advance BC therapy.