What If Trojan Horse Nanoparticles Could Change the Game for HPV Gene-Targeted Therapies?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection linked to various cancers, particularly cervical cancer, primarily driven by high-risk strains like HPV16 and HPV18. While vaccines are effective in preventing new infections, they do not address existing cases, highlighting the need for innovative therapies. Gene-targeted approaches, such as CRISPR/Cas and siRNA, show promise in inhibiting HPV oncogenes. Recent advancements in Trojan horse nanoparticles (NPs) offer a strategy for delivering these therapies directly to HPV-infected cells. These NPs improve stability and targeted delivery, enhancing the biodistribution of CRISPR/Cas systems and siRNAs while protecting them from degradation. However, challenges like immune responses and regulatory hurdles persist. Therefore, this review emphasizes the potential of Trojan horse NPs in treating HPV-related cancers, identifies critical areas for future research, and provides updates on gene-targeted therapy encapsulated NPs in preclinical and clinical trials.