Antimicrobial Polymer-Based Hydrogels for the Intravaginal Therapies-Engineering Considerations

The review is focused on the hydrogel systems dedicated to the intravaginal delivery of antibacterial, antifungal and anti-<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> activity drugs for the treatment of gynaecological infections. The strategies for the enhancement of the hydrophobic drug solubility in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Monika Gosecka (Author), Mateusz Gosecki (Author)
Format: Book
Published: MDPI AG, 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z.
Subjects:
Online Access:Connect to this object online.
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The review is focused on the hydrogel systems dedicated to the intravaginal delivery of antibacterial, antifungal and anti-<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> activity drugs for the treatment of gynaecological infections. The strategies for the enhancement of the hydrophobic drug solubility in the hydrogel matrix based on the formation of bigel systems and the introduction of nano- and microparticles as a drug reservoir are presented. Hydrogel carriers of natural and synthetic pharmacological substances, drug-free systems displaying antimicrobial activity thanks to the hydrogel building elements and systems combining the antimicrobial activity of both drug and polymer building components are distinguished. The design of hydrogels facilitating their administration and proper distribution in the vaginal mucosa and the vagina based on thermoresponsive systems capable of gelling at vaginal conditions and already-cross-linked injectable systems after reaching the yield stress are discussed. In addition, the mechanisms of hydrogel bioadhesion that regulate the retention time in the vagina are indicated. Finally, the prospects for the further development of hydrogel-based drug carriers in gynaecological therapies are highlighted.
Item Description:10.3390/pharmaceutics13091393
1999-4923