01-27-2013, 10:34 AM
Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology studies materials with morphological features on the nanoscale, and especially those that have special properties stemming from their nanoscale dimensions. Nanomaterials take bigger and bigger place in our lives every day.
The only currently available way to protect against HIV and unwanted pregnancy is the condom. So even though it provides a completely satisfactory protection, sometimes its use is complicated and impractical.
New Contraception Method
Because of this reason, a team of experts from the University of Washington has developed specific nanomaterials that protect women from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. It is the special type of fabric with fibers of hundreds of nanometers in size, which can release drugs and thus offer a platform for inexpensive, discreet and reusable protection.
It is a serious project, supported by the fact that the charitable foundation of Bill and Melinda Gates has donated one million U.S. dollars to University, in order to help the team that works on developing new material to devote exclusively to this task. And that is exactly what they intend to do.
"Our goal is to create the product that women can use to protect themselves from HIV and unwanted pregnancy in a discreet and reliable way. We already have drugs that are efficient, and we just need to figure out the way to make these drugs more efficient and easier to use, "said Kim Woodrow, professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington.
The material of which this "future contraception" was made, was obtained using electrospin. The scientists used an electric field to eject charged jets of fluid through the air and thus create a very fine fibers size of several hundred of nanometers. Once created, fibers can be manipulated with in various ways and thus degradability, strength and even the dimensions of the entire material can be changed. Because of its "diversity", these fibers are more suitable for the introduction of drugs into the body than conventional materials used today, mostly gels and pills. Also, the designing the fibers do not require high temperatures, so this method of contraception is completely "safe" for heat-sensitive molecules. Along with all the above, it should be noted that the material may contain some larger molecules such as proteins or antibodies that are relatively complicated to deliver into the human body using currently available methods.
Work on the project began last year when Kim Woodrow presented the idea at the meeting of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. After that, student Emily Krogstad and Cameron Ball joined, and it was this trio that was responsible for developing a prototype of what is already called "the future of contraception."
In the initial phase of the study, researchers broke down the polymers and anti-retroviral drugs that the U.S. Agency for Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of HIV. This was necessary in order to create the solution that can pass through the fine needle. This solution is then rapidly catapulted through the electric field, and that way the fibers are ranging from a hundred to several thousand nanometers. The fibers then "flied through the air" until they bumped into a specially designed pad that brought them together in one place. The final product is a stretchable material that can physically keep sperm at the same time release certain chemical elements and remedies against the HIV virus.
"This method allows us controlled release of several important ingredients. Also, the fiber can be adjusted to emit more or less drug, depending on the need, "says Cameron Ball.
One of the prototypes of nanomaterials is capable of decomposing in a very short time (within a few minutes), which would mean that it can give the women a very quick, convenient and discreet protection from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The second material dissolves slower, in aq range of a few days, and its effect can be compared with contraceptive pills. It is assumed that women will be able to choose the type of materials to be used, depending on their needs and preferences.
Another good news is that in this material, in the future, a multitude of other materials can be incorporated that would protect women from a wide range of sexually transmitted diseases. Also, it can be modified so that it contains several drugs against the HIV virus, and thus further enhance its functionality. Different fibers could be adjusted so that the drug released at different times in order to maximize their effectiveness. Actually, in this flexibility and virtually unlimited range of applications lies one of the biggest advantages of this new method of contraception. Of course, the important fact is that it is almost absolutely discreet.
It should be noted that the method of electrospin (creation of special winding materials using electric fields) is known to scientists for decades, but only recently is automated to the extent that it is possible to use it to create complex materials. The study described in this article is the first ever conducted in the field of vaginal insertion of a medicine using nanomaterials created by electrospin.
While the technology that was developed by Woodrow and contributors is certainly more discrete than condoms and potentially much more convenient than pills, diaphragms, etc., however, scientists stress that there is no one best answer when it comes to choice of contraception.
"In moments of passion is a big question is what is the solution that would appear most appropriate to person to apply it. Precisely because of that, it is important to offer more choices. Depending on the cultural background and personal preferences, each woman will decide for herself what is most convenient form of contraception, "says Krogstad.
Scientists are hoping that nanomaterials which have developed practical application, could be applied in Africa and other conservative areas precisely because they allow a large degree of discretion in the use of contraception. In this way, the scientists hope, nanomaterials as a supplementation to the "classical" methods of birth control may acquire a significant impact on reducing the percentage of HIV-positive women in Third World countries.
Nanotechnology studies materials with morphological features on the nanoscale, and especially those that have special properties stemming from their nanoscale dimensions. Nanomaterials take bigger and bigger place in our lives every day.
The only currently available way to protect against HIV and unwanted pregnancy is the condom. So even though it provides a completely satisfactory protection, sometimes its use is complicated and impractical.
New Contraception Method
Because of this reason, a team of experts from the University of Washington has developed specific nanomaterials that protect women from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. It is the special type of fabric with fibers of hundreds of nanometers in size, which can release drugs and thus offer a platform for inexpensive, discreet and reusable protection.
It is a serious project, supported by the fact that the charitable foundation of Bill and Melinda Gates has donated one million U.S. dollars to University, in order to help the team that works on developing new material to devote exclusively to this task. And that is exactly what they intend to do.
"Our goal is to create the product that women can use to protect themselves from HIV and unwanted pregnancy in a discreet and reliable way. We already have drugs that are efficient, and we just need to figure out the way to make these drugs more efficient and easier to use, "said Kim Woodrow, professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington.
The material of which this "future contraception" was made, was obtained using electrospin. The scientists used an electric field to eject charged jets of fluid through the air and thus create a very fine fibers size of several hundred of nanometers. Once created, fibers can be manipulated with in various ways and thus degradability, strength and even the dimensions of the entire material can be changed. Because of its "diversity", these fibers are more suitable for the introduction of drugs into the body than conventional materials used today, mostly gels and pills. Also, the designing the fibers do not require high temperatures, so this method of contraception is completely "safe" for heat-sensitive molecules. Along with all the above, it should be noted that the material may contain some larger molecules such as proteins or antibodies that are relatively complicated to deliver into the human body using currently available methods.
Work on the project began last year when Kim Woodrow presented the idea at the meeting of the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington. After that, student Emily Krogstad and Cameron Ball joined, and it was this trio that was responsible for developing a prototype of what is already called "the future of contraception."
In the initial phase of the study, researchers broke down the polymers and anti-retroviral drugs that the U.S. Agency for Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of HIV. This was necessary in order to create the solution that can pass through the fine needle. This solution is then rapidly catapulted through the electric field, and that way the fibers are ranging from a hundred to several thousand nanometers. The fibers then "flied through the air" until they bumped into a specially designed pad that brought them together in one place. The final product is a stretchable material that can physically keep sperm at the same time release certain chemical elements and remedies against the HIV virus.
"This method allows us controlled release of several important ingredients. Also, the fiber can be adjusted to emit more or less drug, depending on the need, "says Cameron Ball.
One of the prototypes of nanomaterials is capable of decomposing in a very short time (within a few minutes), which would mean that it can give the women a very quick, convenient and discreet protection from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The second material dissolves slower, in aq range of a few days, and its effect can be compared with contraceptive pills. It is assumed that women will be able to choose the type of materials to be used, depending on their needs and preferences.
Another good news is that in this material, in the future, a multitude of other materials can be incorporated that would protect women from a wide range of sexually transmitted diseases. Also, it can be modified so that it contains several drugs against the HIV virus, and thus further enhance its functionality. Different fibers could be adjusted so that the drug released at different times in order to maximize their effectiveness. Actually, in this flexibility and virtually unlimited range of applications lies one of the biggest advantages of this new method of contraception. Of course, the important fact is that it is almost absolutely discreet.
It should be noted that the method of electrospin (creation of special winding materials using electric fields) is known to scientists for decades, but only recently is automated to the extent that it is possible to use it to create complex materials. The study described in this article is the first ever conducted in the field of vaginal insertion of a medicine using nanomaterials created by electrospin.
While the technology that was developed by Woodrow and contributors is certainly more discrete than condoms and potentially much more convenient than pills, diaphragms, etc., however, scientists stress that there is no one best answer when it comes to choice of contraception.
"In moments of passion is a big question is what is the solution that would appear most appropriate to person to apply it. Precisely because of that, it is important to offer more choices. Depending on the cultural background and personal preferences, each woman will decide for herself what is most convenient form of contraception, "says Krogstad.
Scientists are hoping that nanomaterials which have developed practical application, could be applied in Africa and other conservative areas precisely because they allow a large degree of discretion in the use of contraception. In this way, the scientists hope, nanomaterials as a supplementation to the "classical" methods of birth control may acquire a significant impact on reducing the percentage of HIV-positive women in Third World countries.