ADVANCEMENTS IN VAGINAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: A REVIEW
Boomika R.*, Lathika Saran B., Preethi V., Deepika P., Dhanesh Kumar M. R., Dr. Sathish A.
The review paper investigates innovative vaginal drug delivery systems aimed at overcoming the limitations of conventional treatments for vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and trichomoniasis (TV). With over 70% of women affected by vaginal infections, the significance of the review lies in addressing the shortcomings of traditional therapies, which include low bioavailability, short residence time, and resistance issues, especially in recurrent and immunocompromised cases. The review evaluates a variety of advanced delivery systems—nanoparticles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), hydrogels, microspheres, and films—highlighting their potential for localized treatment. Key findings indicate that these advanced systems significantly enhance drug retention and target infection sites effectively, with mucoadhesive systems prolonging residence time and offering sustained drug release. Notably, nanocarriers such as NLCs and liposomes demonstrate improved stability, bioavailability, and antimicrobial efficacy, while hydrogels and films facilitate controlled drug delivery with minimal systemic exposure. In conclusion, the review emphasizes the transformative potential of these novel vaginal drug delivery systems to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance by addressing the limitations of conventional therapies. Future research should focus on clinical validation and scalability to maximize their impact in real-world applications.
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