A “molecular condom” has been developed by scientists that functions as a vaginal gel to protect women from contracting HIV during sexual intercourse.
To use it, women would insert the gel before sex. The gel turns semisolid when exposed to semen, creating a microscopic mesh that traps HIV particles and prevents them from infecting vaginal cells.
Lead scientist Prof Patrick Kiser of the University of Utah stated, “We want to stop the first step in the complicated process of HIV infection in a woman, which is the virus diffusing from semen to vaginal tissue. This is unique and there’s nothing like it. We developed this technology to enable women to protect themselves against HIV without needing approval from their partner.”
Due to cultural and socioeconomic factors, women often face challenges in negotiating the use of protection with their partner. The vaginal gel provides a solution as it can be inserted a few hours before sex and can detect the presence of semen, creating a protective barrier between vaginal tissue and HIV. The gel’s flow becomes slower and more solid at the pH of semen.
The scientists estimate that human tests of the gel would start in three to five years, and it would take several more years for the gel to reach the market.
The findings of the experiment testing the behavior of the vaginal gel and demonstrating how it traps HIV particles will be published in the upcoming edition of the ‘Advanced Functional Materials’ journal.
To use it, women would insert the gel before sex. The gel turns semisolid when exposed to semen, creating a microscopic mesh that traps HIV particles and prevents them from infecting vaginal cells.
Lead scientist Prof Patrick Kiser of the University of Utah stated, “We want to stop the first step in the complicated process of HIV infection in a woman, which is the virus diffusing from semen to vaginal tissue. This is unique and there’s nothing like it. We developed this technology to enable women to protect themselves against HIV without needing approval from their partner.”
Due to cultural and socioeconomic factors, women often face challenges in negotiating the use of protection with their partner. The vaginal gel provides a solution as it can be inserted a few hours before sex and can detect the presence of semen, creating a protective barrier between vaginal tissue and HIV. The gel’s flow becomes slower and more solid at the pH of semen.
The scientists estimate that human tests of the gel would start in three to five years, and it would take several more years for the gel to reach the market.
The findings of the experiment testing the behavior of the vaginal gel and demonstrating how it traps HIV particles will be published in the upcoming edition of the ‘Advanced Functional Materials’ journal.
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