Squeezing Flows of Vaginal Gel Formulations Relevant to Microbicide Drug Delivery

摘要: Efficacy of topical microbicidal drug delivery formulations against HIV depends in part on their ability to coat, distribute, and be retained epithelium. Once applied the vagina, a formulation is distributed by physical forces including: gravity, surface tension, shearing, normal from surrounding tissues, i.e., squeezing forces. The present study focused vaginal microbicide distribution due Mathematical simulations flows were compared with experiments, using model gel formulations. Our objectives were: (1) determine if mathematical can accurately describe formulations; (2) find best optimized parameter sets these gels; (3) examine coating models summary parameters for each gel. Squeezing flow experiments revealed large differences spreadability between formulations, suggesting different distributions vivo. We determined six test gels two compositions, cellulose polyacrylic acid (PAA). found that some it was preferable deduce input directly experiments. For gels, slip conditions needed evaluated. PAA we absence rotational viscometry measurements (to Herschel-Bulkley parameters) led reasonably accurate predictions flows. Results indicated yield stresses may strong determinant mechanics. This serves as template further investigations other determination which sources rheological data characterize potential These serve useful tools exploring parameters, optimizing prior costly clinical trials.