3D printed clotrimazole intravaginal ring for the treatment of recurrent vaginal candidiasis

Abstract Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a vaginal infection caused by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans that, most commonly, affects women of reproductive age. Its first-line treatment consists in topical applications conventional drug formulations (e.g., creams, gels, tablets) containing imidazole drugs. The involves single or multiple daily and, case recurrences, administration oral antifungal drugs for up to one month. Intravaginal rings are flexible, biocompatible medical devices compared formulations, offer possibility controlled delivery over determined period with application, thus increasing patient compliance. Among innovative manufacturing techniques, recent years, fused deposition modeling 3D printing has emerged pharmaceutical field produce different therapeutics combining and polymers. This technique allows print objects layer many thermoplastic materials after computer-assisted design. Thermoplastic polyurethanes flexible that can be efficiently employed release systems, already utilized prepare devices. In this work, we produced clotrimazole-loaded intravaginal ring polyurethane using hot melt extrusion. were computer-designed then printed two concentrations (i.e., 2% 10% w/w). first tested an agar-diffusion test evaluate their effectiveness against C. albicans; loaded was selected further studies. Drug evaluated media 50% ethanol fluid simulant) showing sustained seven days. Next, vitro time-kill analysis simulated performed displayed complete growth inhibition 5 days, control. These results suggest potential application these vulvovaginal long-time recurrences.