title: Drug-eluting fibers for HIV-1 inhibition and contraception.
abstract: Multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) that simultaneously prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy are a global health priority. Combining chemical and physical barriers offers the greatest potential to design effective MPTs, but integrating both functional modalities into a single device has been challenging. Here we show that drug-eluting fiber meshes designed for topical drug delivery can function as a combination chemical and physical barrier MPT. Using FDA-approved polymers, we fabricated nanofiber meshes with tunable fiber size and controlled degradation kinetics that facilitate simultaneous release of multiple agents against HIV-1, HSV-2, and sperm. We observed that drug-loaded meshes inhibited HIV-1 infection in vitro and physically obstructed sperm penetration. Furthermore, we report on a previously unknown activity of glycerol monolaurate (GML) to potently inhibit sperm motility and viability. The application of drug-eluting nanofibers for HIV-1 prevention and sperm inhibition may serve as an innovative platform technology for drug delivery to the lower female reproductive tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krogstad
authors.forename: Thanyanan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaowanachan
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Woodrow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D003267:Contraception; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007848:Laurates / Q000494:pharmacology; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D050178:Monoglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D007848:Laurates; D050178:Monoglycerides; C020777:monolaurin