About this Research Topic

Background

Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignancy among women globally, poses a significant threat to women's health. With over 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths in 2022, advancements in treatment are urgently needed. Traditional therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have shown promise but face challenges due to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. Additionally, implant-related complications in breast reconstruction add to patient concerns. Thus, developing novel diagnostics and therapies is imperative.

Nanomaterials, with their unique properties, offer potential solutions. They have demonstrated promise in breast cancer research, enhancing detection, diagnosis, and treatment. By conjugating with specific ligands/receptors, nanomaterials can improve diagnostic accuracy and enable molecular typing of breast cancer. Nanodelivery systems enhance drug targeting and stability, while nanotechnologies like phototherapy and hyperthermia provide new treatment strategies. Notably, several nanoplatforms have already been licensed for cancer therapy, with numerous others in clinical trials.

However, challenges remain. Ensuring biocompatibility and safety, achieving precision targeting and smart drug release, designing multi-functional nanoplatforms, addressing production costs and clinical application, overcoming interdisciplinary research shortages, and realizing personalized treatment are urgent issues. Enhancing the performance of nanomaterials and deepening the understanding of nano-biology (tumor) are expected to drive the development of nanoscience and clinical medicine, thereby improving the current status of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The goal of this Research Topic is to explore the application of nanomaterials in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, addressing key challenges such as biocompatibility, safety, precise targeting, drug loading and release efficiency, and clinical translation. By harnessing nanotechnology, we aim to develop innovative solutions that overcome these obstacles, ultimately achieving widespread and effective use of nanomaterials in breast cancer care.

The current Research Topic will focus on the latest applications of nanomaterials in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms. This exploration aims to offer a fresh perspective on clinical advancements in breast cancer management and nanomaterials technology innovation. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews on the following nanomaterials-related topics, among others:
• Imaging Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
• Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarkers
• Breast Cancer Vaccines
• Real-Time Navigation in Breast Cancer Surgery
• Drug/Gene/Micromolecule Delivery Systems Targeting Breast Cancer
• Postoperative Reconstruction for Breast Cancer.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Nanomaterials, Breast Cancer, Endocrinology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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