RT Journal Article T1 Chitosan and Kappa-Carrageenan Vaginal Acyclovir Formulations for Prevention of Genital Herpes. In Vitro and Ex Vivo Evaluation A1 Sánchez Sánchez, María Pilar A1 Martín Illana, Araceli A1 Ruiz Caro, Roberto A1 Bermejo Benito, Paulina A1 Abad Martínez, María José A1 Carro, Rubén A1 Bedoya del Olmo, Luis Miguel A1 Tamayo, Aitana A1 Rubio, Juan A1 Fernández Ferreiro, Anxo A1 Otero Espinar, Francisco A1 Veiga Ochoa, María Dolores AB Vaginal formulations for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections are currently gaining importance in drug development. Polysaccharides, such as chitosan and carrageenan, which have good binding capacity with mucosal tissues, are now included in vaginal delivery systems. Marine polymer-based vaginal mucoadhesive solid formulations have been developed for the controlled release of acyclovir, which may prevent the sexual transmission of the herpes simplex virus. Drug release studies were carried out in two media: simulated vaginal fluid and simulated vaginal fluid/simulated seminal fluid mixture. The bioadhesive capacity and permanence time of the bioadhesion, the prepared compacts, and compacted granules were determined ex vivo using bovine vaginal mucosa as substrate. Swelling processes were quantified to confirm the release data. Biocompatibility was evaluated through in vitro cellular toxicity assays, and the results showed that acyclovir and the rest of the materials had no cytotoxicity at the maximum concentration tested. The mixture of hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose with chitosan- or kappa-carrageenan-originated mucoadhesive systems that presented a complete and sustained release of acyclovir for a period of 8–9 days in both media. Swelling data revealed the formation of optimal mixed chitosan/hydroxyl-propyl-methyl-cellulose gels which could be appropriated for the prevention of sexual transmission of HSV. PB MDPI SN 1660-3397 YR 2015 FD 2015-09-18 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/23892 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/23892 LA eng NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) DS Docta Complutense RD 30 abr 2024