Leveraging exosomes and lipid nanoparticles based nanomedicine for cervical cancer therapeutics

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant global health burden, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiological factor, although tumor progression is also influenced by genetic alterations, immune dysregulation, and changes within the tumor microenvironment. Current therapeutic approaches, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted treatment, often lack sufficient tumor specificity, resulting in damage to healthy tissues, treatment-related toxicity, and limited therapeutic efficacy. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising strategy to address these limitations. Exosomes and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are biocompatible and, in many cases, biodegradable delivery systems capable of transporting anticancer drugs, nucleic acids, and combination therapies. Their ability to enhance tumor accumulation, protect therapeutic cargo, and reduce systemic exposure may improve treatment outcomes. Furthermore, surface modification with lipid-like moieties, antibodies, peptides, or other targeting ligands can promote selective uptake by CC cells and stromal components of the tumor microenvironment. These nanocarriers may also help overcome drug resistance and facilitate synergistic therapeutic combinations. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of CC and examines recent advances in exosome- and LNP-based therapeutic platforms, including clinically approved nanoparticle formulations and emerging translational studies. We discuss their advantages, limitations, safety considerations, and future prospects for precision treatment, with the goal of improving efficacy, reducing adverse effects, and enhancing patient survival and quality of life.