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Vaginal Nanoformulations for the Management of Preterm Birth
Asad Mir1, Richa V Vartak1, Ketan Patel1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA.
Insights
Preterm birth (PTB) treatments face challenges, but nanomedicine offers new hope. Vaginal drug delivery and insights into cervical function are paving the way for novel therapies to prevent premature birth.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Nanomedicine
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Preterm birth (PTB) is a major global cause of infant mortality and morbidity.
- Existing PTB therapies have shown limited success.
- Vaginal drug delivery is a promising localized approach for the female reproductive tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the complexities of treating preterm birth.
- To explore novel therapeutics for PTB based on recent advancements.
- To highlight promising preclinical findings in PTB treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on preterm birth.
- Analysis of nanomedicine applications in reproductive health.
- Examination of preclinical studies on cervical function and PTB.
Main Results:
- Nanomedicine enables effective local drug delivery via vaginal administration.
- Murine models offer insights into the cervix's role in pregnancy and parturition.
- Novel therapeutics show promise in preclinical settings for PTB treatment.
Conclusions:
- The field of reproductive biology is advancing towards new PTB treatment strategies.
- Vaginal drug delivery and understanding cervical function are key areas for innovation.
- Preclinical studies indicate a potential paradigm shift in managing preterm birth.
Abstract:
Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the world. In 2020, 1 in 10 infants were born prematurely in the United States. The World Health Organization estimates that a total of 15 million infants are born prematurely every year. Current therapeutic interventions for PTB have had limited replicable success. Recent advancements in the field of nanomedicine have made it possible to utilize the vaginal administration route to effectively and locally deliver drugs to the female reproductive tract. Additionally, studies using murine models have provided important insights about the cervix as a gatekeeper for pregnancy and parturition. With these recent developments, the field of reproductive biology is on the cusp of a paradigm shift in the context of treating PTB. The present review focuses on the complexities associated with treating the condition and novel therapeutics that have produced promising results in preclinical studies.
