Personalized Vaginal Drug Delivery through 3D Printing: Techniques, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biomedical Engineering
• Gynecology

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of vaginal disorders like bacterial vaginosis and endometriosis globally.
• Limitations of conventional treatments including side effects, drug resistance, and poor patient adherence.
• Growing need for innovative and patient-centric therapeutic solutions in women's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of 3D printing (3DP) technologies for vaginal drug delivery systems (VDDS).
• To explore critical factors in 3DP for VDDS, including materials, drug release, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility.
• To discuss the regulatory landscape and future potential of 3DP in vaginal therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of 3D printing applications in vaginal drug delivery.
• Analysis of material selection, drug release kinetics, and mechanical properties of 3D printed formulations.
• Examination of biocompatibility studies and regulatory considerations for 3D printed vaginal devices.

Main Results:

• 3D printing enables the fabrication of customized and patient-specific VDDS with controlled drug release.
• 3DP offers precise control over drug deposition, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
• Consideration of material properties, drug release mechanisms, and biocompatibility is crucial for effective 3D printed VDDS.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing presents a promising approach for developing advanced vaginal drug delivery systems.
• 3D Printed VDDS can overcome limitations of conventional treatments, improving patient adherence and efficacy.
• Further research and regulatory advancements are needed to fully realize the potential of 3DP in vaginal therapeutics.