Integrating Nanotechnology and Artificial Intelligence for Next Generation Breast Cancer Management: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and its clinical management continues to be complicated by substantial tumor heterogeneity. Two technological forces are reshaping the therapeutic and diagnostic landscape of this disease: nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). Nanomedicine has matured into a versatile platform for targeted drug delivery, diagnostics, and theranostics, while AI provides the computational capacity required to interpret complex biomedical datasets, forecast clinical outcomes, and tailor therapeutic strategies to individual patients. For much of their development, these two fields progressed largely independently; their recent convergence, however, has begun to define a distinct frontier in oncology research. This review examines the intersection of AI and nanotechnology across the breast cancer care continuum, beginning with AI-guided rational design and high-throughput screening of nanocarrier platforms, including lipid-based, polymeric, and inorganic systems, and how computational approaches accelerate their development and optimization. The contribution of AI to nanodiagnostics is then discussed, with attention to machine learning-based analysis of nano-enhanced imaging and liquid biopsy data for early detection and tumor profiling. AI-powered nanotheranostic systems capable of responding to the dynamic tumor microenvironment and enabling real-time treatment monitoring are subsequently addressed, followed by AI-based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling for predicting patient-specific responses and guiding nanodrug personalization. Finally, translational challenges are examined, including regulatory frameworks, data standardization, and clinical validation requirements. Collectively, the convergence of AI and nanotechnology offers a path toward transforming breast cancer care from a generic, reactive model to one that is precise, predictive, and personalized.