Development of pH-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles for Targeted Doxorubicin Delivery in Breast Cancer: Advances, Design Strategies, and Future Perspectives
1 Faculty of Pharmacy, Oriental University, Indore- 453555, Madhya Pradesh State, India.
2 Analytical-R&D, Kusum Healthcare Pvt.Ltd. Chopanki, Bhiwadi, Alwar- 301019, Rajasthan State, India.
3 Department of Pharmaceutical science, Maharishi dayanand university, rohtak- 124001, Haryana State, India.
4 Centre for medical biotechnology, Maharishi dayanand university, rohtak- 124001, Haryana State, India.
5 Sage Institute of Research and Technology, Sage University Bhopal - 462022, Madhya Pradesh State, India
6 Miller Blvd, NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
7 Scientist and Consultant (Independent) in Biotechnology, Belagavi-590003, Karnataka State, India.
* Corresponding Author
Review
Open Access Research Journal of Biology and Pharmacy, 2026, 18(01), 006–016.
Article DOI: 10.53022/oarjbp.2026.18.1.0051
Publication history:
Received on 02September 2026; revised on 11 October 2026; accepted on 13 October 2026
Abstract:
Breast cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Although doxorubicin is widely used in chemotherapy, its clinical application is limited by cardiotoxicity, systemic toxicity, and non-specific drug distribution. pH-responsive polymeric nanoparticles offer a promising approach for targeted drug delivery by releasing doxorubicin in the acidic tumor microenvironment while maintaining stability under physiological conditions. Biodegradable polymers, including PLGA, PEG, chitosan, and poly(β-amino esters), have been investigated for developing these nanocarriers. Preclinical studies indicate improved intracellular drug delivery, enhanced antitumor activity, and potential reductions in systemic toxicity. This review highlights recent advances in the design, development, and therapeutic applications of pH-responsive polymeric nanoparticles for doxorubicin delivery in breast cancer, along with challenges in safety, clinical translation, and regulatory approval. These systems hold considerable potential for improving targeted cancer therapy.
Keywords:
Ph-Responsive Nanoparticles, Polymeric Nanocarriers, Doxorubicin Delivery, Breast Cancer, Targeted Drug Delivery, Nanomedicine, Drug Resistance
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0