Graphene-based materials: A new tool to fight against breast cancer

Int J Pharm. 2021 Jun 15:603:120644. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.120644. Epub 2021 May 6.

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women population on a global scale, with a huge number of new cases and deaths each year. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of literatures on the discovery and development of novel anti-breast cancer drugs and materials, aiming to increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. One of the newest tools used for the therapy of breast cancer is graphene-based materials, which have ultra-high surface area as well as unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties. It is reported that graphene-based materials could induce apoptosis in cancer cells while showing low toxicity due to their carbon structure. Therefore, they can be used as nano-drugs or biological carriers to introduce small molecules such as nucleic acids, drugs, or photosensitizers into the human body to achieve treatment goals. This article introduces the synthetic methods for graphene-based materials, as well as the current status and the future prospects of graphene-based materials' application in the treatment of breast cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Delivery; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Identification; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Carbon
  • Female
  • Graphite*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Carbon
  • Graphite