title: Polymer-based nanocarriers for vaginal drug delivery.
abstract: The vaginal delivery of various drugs is well described and its relevance established in current medical practice. Alongside recent advances and achievements in the fields of pharmaceutical nanotechnology and nanomedicine, there is an increasing interest in the potential use of different nanocarriers for the delivery of old and new pharmacologically active molecules with either therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. Nanosystems of polymeric nature in particular have been investigated over the last years and their interactions with mucosal fluids and tissues, as well as genital tract biodistribution upon vaginal administration, are now better understood. While different applications have been envisioned, most of the current research is focusing in the development of nano-formulations with the potential to inhibit the vaginal transmission of HIV upon sexual intercourse. The present work focuses its discussion on the potential and perils of polymer-based nanocarriers for the vaginal administration of different pharmacologically active molecules.
authors.affiliation: INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: j.dasneves@ineb.up.pt.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: das Neves
authors.affiliation: INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rute
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; CESPU, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarmento
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology; D066228:Vaginal Absorption; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014625:Vaginal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
keywords: Gene silencing; Mucosal drug delivery; Mucosal vaccination; Mucus; Nanofibers; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Vaginal microbicides