Research on hiv

As part of a worldwide endeavor to dramatically curtail the spread of the deadly Aids virus, researchers have advanced a vaginal gel designed to liquidize and issue an antiviral drug when exposed to semen. The creators of the "molecular condom," which is still in the early testing phase, claim the temperature- and pH-sensitive polymer could prove a more efficient formula of delivering anti-Hiv agents than typical gels and creams.

"What we hope is that by attacking the virus in semen, we can inactivate it before it has any opportunity of permeating the tissue," says bioengineer Patrick Kiser of the University of Utah.

Research On Hiv

Kiser and his colleagues discovered a polymer aggregate that is liquid at room temperature, but thickens into a gel-like coating at body climatic characteristic and a pH level of 4 to 5, which occurs in the vagina. The researchers designed the gel to liquidize again at neutral Ph levels, because semen neutralizes vaginal Ph. Kiser explains it can then mix with semen and deliver an antiviral attack, possibly a small molecule or a polymer microbicide (microbe-killing compound).

The "molecular condom" is part of a global strategy to organize microbicides suspended in creams, gels or other materials to preclude the spread of Hiv and Aids, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases.

Clinical trials are currently ongoing for at least a dozen dissimilar vaginal microbicides, agreeing to the Alliance for Microbicide Development.

The trick, as Kiser says, is to introduce such compounds that releases the antiviral agent as rapidly and as effectively as possible.

"It could really only take minutes for the virus to come into experience with immune law cells," he explains, "so you don't really have a lot of time."

according to the study by Kiser's group, published online December 11 by the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The molecular condom appears to be a relatively non-toxic way of efficiently delivering an antiviral drug. The researchers reported that it destroyed fewer mouse skin cells in the lab dish than two other products applied vaginally, along with the routinely used spermicide nonoxynol-9.

The polymer also released 49 per cent of a small dye molecule, which is chemically similar to microbicides, within five minutes of exposure to a semen-like fluid.

However, Kiser warned that supplementary research is needed to rule either the gel causes any potentially risky side effects like inflammation, which would attract immune cells that would growth the inherent targets for the Hiv virus upon exposure.

The staying power of the gel is yet to be confirmed, but Kiser says, based on its viscosity, it may remain safely in the vagina for up to a day. He understands the significance of keeping time.

"If a woman has to apply a microbicide right before sex, that's quite inconvenient," he says.

"It's an inviting new way to think about things," says Polly Harrison, director of the Alliance for Microbicide Development. "We want to make these products as user-friendly as possible," and a gel that women could apply well in develop of sex "could be a real advantage."

Researchers create Hiv Killing Gel

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