Stimuli-responsive and multifunctional chitosan-based nanoplatforms in gynecological cancers therapy: mechanistic insights, immuno-phototherapeutic strategies, chemoresistance modulation, and translational perspectives

Chitosan-derived nanoplatforms have surfaced as multifunctional and biocompatible systems aimed at augmenting therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in gynecological malignancies, with a particular emphasis on ovarian and cervical cancers. Recent empirical investigations reveal that functionalized chitosan nanoparticles facilitate efficient drug delivery, promote enhanced cellular uptake, and provide regulated release profiles, thus surmounting the constraints associated with traditional chemotherapy. A variety of formulations, encompassing lipid–chitosan hybrid nanoparticles, folate-targeted systems, and redox-responsive carriers, have exhibited notable cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic properties in cancer cell lines including A2780, SKOV-3, and HeLa. Beyond chemotherapy, multifunctional platforms that amalgamate photothermal, photodynamic, and immunotherapeutic strategies have evidenced improved antitumor efficacy via the generation of reactive oxygen species and the activation of immune responses. Moreover, chitosan-based systems have been adeptly utilized in biosensing platforms for the precise identification of cancer biomarkers, thereby facilitating early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring. Sophisticated methodologies, such as three-dimensional printed scaffolds and localized delivery mechanisms, facilitate prolonged and site-specific pharmacological release, thereby reducing systemic toxicity. Notably, targeted modifications, encompassing folic acid conjugation and surface functionalization, markedly enhance tumor selectivity and therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, these observations underscore the potential of chitosan-based nanoplatforms as multifunctional entities that amalgamate diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, presenting promising translational prospects for the enhancement of clinical management of gynecological malignancies.