Recent Advances in Nanosystems and Strategies for Vaginal Delivery of Antimicrobials

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 11; no. 2; p. 311
• Main Authors: Chindamo, Giulia, Sapino, Simona, Peira, Elena, Chirio, Daniela, Gallarate, Marina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.01.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; antimicrobials; Asymptomatic; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Candidiasis; Childbirth & labor; Chlamydia; Condoms; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Drug dosages; Drug resistance; Fetuses; Fever; Flora; Gels; Genital microflora; Gonorrhea; Herpes viruses; Hormones; Infections; Liposomes; local therapies; Lotions; Micelles; Microorganisms; nanocarriers; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Pain; Pathogens; Penicillin; Review; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Surface properties; Syphilis; Trichomoniasis; Vagina; vaginal infections; Vaginosis; Viral infections; vaginal infections; drug delivery systems; antimicrobials; local therapies; nanocarriers
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano11020311

Vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis affect millions of women each year. They are caused by an overgrowth of microorganisms, generally sexually transmitted, which in turn can be favored by alterations in the vaginal flora. Conventional treatments of these infections consist in systemic or local antimicrobial therapies. However, in the attempt to reduce adverse effects and to contrast microbial resistance and infection recurrences, many efforts have been devoted to the development of vaginal systems for the local delivery of antimicrobials. Several topical dosage forms such as aerosols, lotions, suppositories, tablets, gels, and creams have been proposed, although they are sometimes ineffective due to their poor penetration and rapid removal from the vaginal canal. For these reasons, the development of innovative drug delivery systems, able to remain in situ and release active agents for a prolonged period, is becoming more and more important. Among all, nanosystems such as liposomes, nanoparticles (NPs), and micelles with tunable surface properties, but also thermogelling nanocomposites, could be exploited to improve local drug delivery, biodistribution, retention, and uptake in vulvovaginal tissues. The aim of this review is to provide a survey of the variety of nanoplatforms developed for the vaginal delivery of antimicrobial agents. A concise summary of the most common vaginal infections and of the conventional therapies is also provided.