Development of stereolithography 3D printed hollow vaginal devices with pore modulation to tailor the drug release

Vaginal infections affect nearly 70% of women worldwide at least once in their lifetime, yet conventional therapies remain suboptimal due to short residence time, leakage, and poor patient adherence. Long-acting vaginal systems such as rings and inserts can prolong drug release but are often limited by formulation constraints and the inability to accommodate diverse therapeutic agents. To address these challenges, we developed a novel hollow vaginal device fabricated via stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing using a biocompatible elastic resin. The C-shaped device features two precisely engineered pore openings that enable controlled drug release. Devices with pore diameters ranging from 0.5-2.0 mm were fabricated and loaded with a clindamycin phosphate aqueous gel, a first-line therapy for bacterial vaginosis. Drug release was modulated by the pore diameter and, at a fixed pore diameter, by the gel viscosity, enabling the dose to be adjusted. Mechanical testing confirmed that the elastic structure withstands repeated compression without deformation, ensuring mechanical robustness during vaginal retention. This versatile and customizable platform enables controlled and sustained intravaginal delivery of a wide range of therapeutics, representing a significant step toward patient-centric, next-generation vaginal drug delivery systems.