Graduate student Jing Li presented her work “Design of Advanced Mucoadhesive Coitally-Independent Vaginal Films for HIV Prevention” at the The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) November annual meeting in San Diego, California. The meeting brought together more than 6,000 scientists, business leaders, government officials, and students from around the world to share and learn the latest scientific advances and industry developments.

The team from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Magee-Womens Research Institute developed extended release topical microbicide products in the form of vaginal films. The films use a combination of a modified natural polymer and functional biopolymer to prolong the time the dosage form remains in the vagina and delivers the antiretroviral drug.
“Vaginal films are desirable because they are convenient, non-messy, low-cost dosage forms which can be discreetly used,” said researcher Jing Li at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. “Since multiple applications of vaginal films can be undesirable, we developed an extended release film platform which does not require frequent administration.”

Li added, “We believe that this more convenient dosing platform will be one that women are more likely to use in their day-to-day lives with the hope that this could decrease infection rates in this highly susceptible population.”

Read More About The Research

Li is a PhD candidate in the lab of PittPharmacy Professor Lisa C. Rohan.

 

Leave a comment