Intravaginal Drug Delivery Systems for HIV Prevention and Contraception
Summary
Intravaginal drug delivery systems have emerged as vital tools in the dual pursuit of preventing HIV transmission and unintended pregnancy. These platforms leverage the unique anatomical and physiological features of the vaginal mucosa to achieve sustained, localised release of antiretroviral agents and contraceptive hormones, thereby enhancing user autonomy and adherence. Early designs centred on polymeric intravaginal rings that provide a steady diffusion of active compounds over weeks to months, reducing dosing frequency and systemic side effects. More recently, innovations have extended to mucoadhesive formulations, bioadhesive nanoparticles and smart gels that respond to physiological triggers, such as changes in pH or the presence of seminal fluid. Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) integrate microbicides with contraceptive steroids in a single device, offering a woman-controlled, long-acting approach to sexual and reproductive health. Advances in materials science—ranging from silicone and polyurethanes to novel biodegradable polymers—alongside engineering techniques such as 3D printing and microprocessor control, have enabled precise tuning of release kinetics, mechanical properties and user comfort. Collectively, these developments hold global significance by expanding choices for women in diverse settings and bridging unmet needs in HIV-endemic regions.
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Intravaginal Drug Delivery Systems for HIV Prevention and Contraception publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in intravaginal drug delivery systems for hiv prevention and contraception across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Intravaginal ring: A flexible, polymeric device inserted into the vagina for controlled, sustained drug release.
Microbicide: A topical agent applied to mucosal surfaces to prevent transmission of infectious agents, notably HIV.
Mucoadhesion: The property of a delivery system to adhere to mucosal tissues, prolonging residence time and drug release.
Reservoir ring: An intravaginal ring design containing a core of active drug surrounded by a rate-controlling membrane.
Multipurpose prevention technology (MPT): A platform combining two or more protective functions, such as contraception and HIV prevention, in a single device.
Bioadhesive nanoparticles: Nanometre-scale carriers engineered to bind to mucosal surfaces for targeted, sustained delivery of therapeutics.
References
- First-in-human study to assess the pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and safety of single-dose oxybutynin hydrochloride administered via a microprocessor-controlled intravaginal ring. Drug Delivery (2023).
- Engineering a Segmented Dual-Reservoir Polyurethane Intravaginal Ring for Simultaneous Prevention of HIV Transmission and Unwanted Pregnancy. PLOS ONE (2014).
- Pilot PET study of vaginally administered bioadhesive nanoparticles in cynomolgus monkeys: Kinetics and safety evaluation. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine (2024).
- Next-Generation Contraceptive Intravaginal Ring: Comparison of Etonogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol In Vitro and In Vivo Release from 3D-Printed Intravaginal Ring and NuvaRing. Pharmaceutics (2024).
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