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By Vivian Richardson, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A gel infused with virus-killing medication could give women a new way to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
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The "liquid condom" is still years away, but scientists at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City are hopeful. Bioengineer Patrick Kiser, Ph.D., says it's the unique properties of the hydrogel substance that makes it work. "This is the first microbicide that's been designed to coat vulnerable tissue in the vagina and release antiviral drug when it comes in contact with semen at the point of viral onslaught," he told Ivanhoe.
Dr. Kiser and colleagues call the invention a "molecular condom." It starts off as a liquid. A woman would insert this liquid into her vagina, where the increased temperature and acidity turns the liquid into a gel. The gel is designed to stay in place until the woman has sex. The decreased acidity of semen turns the gel back into a liquid, causing it to release antimicrobial drugs and kill any HIV virus released into the vagina.
"The idea is that this would be a discreet means for means for a woman to control her sexual health," Dr. Kiser said. In South Africa alone, nearly 5 million people -- more than 10 percent of the population -- have HIV/AIDS. Latex condoms could help prevent the spread of the deadly disease, but sometimes women are denied that choice because of rape, societal pressures, or resistance from men.
The "microbial condom" could prevent the spread of many diseases. "The end result of developing all these new and interesting drugs and technologies for HIV/AIDS is a whole slew of technologies for the other major STDs," said Dr. Kiser.
The gel is made from a polymer -- a molecule with a chain-like structure. It contains three chemicals, including acrylic acid, which is already used in lubricants and spermicidal gels. This technology has not yet been tested in humans. Those tests are still five years away.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Patrick Kiser, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City; Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, published online Dec. 11, 2006
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