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The successful creation of a device to deliver drugs that can act on both human
immunodeficiency virus and herpes has been presented at the 55th Interscience
Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in San Diego, CA.
Researchers say the new silicone vaginal ring could help protect underprivileged women against STIs
such as HIV and herpes.
The silicone vaginal ring can deliver hydrophilic molecules such as tenofovir, which is
active on the most common strain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - HIV-1 - and
acyclovir, which is active on the herpes virus. It is hoped the ring will benefit vulnerable
women at risk of exposure to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
Its development at the University Jean Monnet of Saint-Etienne, France, was made
possible through the collaboration of a team of virologists, chemists and a silicone
engineer, who designed the apparatus used to create the ring.
The concept of controlled release technology made from polymeric materials was first
established in the 1960s and has been successfully used in vaginal ring devices for
delivering long-acting steroids for the treatment of menopausal symptoms
and contraception. Drug permeability has been an issue in the design of a successful
ring.
The difficulty in creating this ring was that silicone is a hydrophobic compound. The
problem was circumvented by adding a hydrophilic compound to the silicone, which
allows the drugs to be released from their reservoirs.
Medical News Today have previously reported on the development of a vaginal ring to
deliver dapivirine, also to be used against HIV. The technology is soon expected to be on
the market.
Written by Yvette Brazier