A novel treatment strategy for preterm birth: Intra-vaginal progesterone-loaded fibrous patches

Muhammet Emin Cam; Ayse Nur Hazar-Yavuz; Sumeyye Cesur; Ozan Ozkan; Hussain Alenezi; Hilal Turkoglu Sasmazel; Mehmet Sayip Eroglu; Francis Brako; Jubair Ahmed; Levent Kabasakal; Guogang Ren; Oguzhan Gunduz; Mohan Edirisinghe

doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119782

A novel treatment strategy for preterm birth: Intra-vaginal progesterone-loaded fibrous patches

Int J Pharm. 2020 Oct 15:588:119782. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119782. Epub 2020 Aug 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; Center for Nanotechnology and Biomaterials Application and Research, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul 34668, Turkey. Electronic address: m.cam@ucl.ac.uk.
² Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul 34668, Turkey.
³ Center for Nanotechnology and Biomaterials Application and Research, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey; Department of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Atilim University, 06836 Ankara, Turkey.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; Department of Manufacturing Engineering, College of Technological Studies, PAAET, 13092 Kuwait City, Kuwait.
⁶ Department of Chemical Engineering, Marmara University, Faculty of Engineering, Goztepe Campus, 34722 Kadikoy/Istanbul, Turkey; TUBITAK-UME, Chemistry Group Laboratories, 41470 Gebze/Kocaeli, Turkey.
⁷ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK; School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK.
⁸ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK.
⁹ Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Division, School of Engineering and Technology, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
¹⁰ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK. Electronic address: m.edirisinghe@ucl.ac.uk.

PMID: 32822780
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119782

Abstract

Progesterone-loaded poly(lactic) acid fibrous polymeric patches were produced using electrospinning and pressurized gyration for intra-vaginal application to prevent preterm birth. The patches were intravaginally inserted into rats in the final week of their pregnancy, equivalent to the third trimester of human pregnancy. Maintenance tocolysis with progesterone-loaded patches was elucidated by recording the contractile response of uterine smooth muscle to noradrenaline in pregnant rats. Both progesterone-loaded patches indicated similar results from release and thermal studies, however, patches obtained by electrospinning had smaller average diameters and more uniform dispersion compared to pressurized gyration. Patches obtained by pressurized gyration had better results in production yield and tensile strength than electrospinning; thereby pressurized gyration is better suited for scaled-up production. The patches did not affect cell attachment, viability, and proliferation on Vero cells negatively. Consequently, progesterone-loaded patches are a novel and successful treatment strategy for preventing preterm birth.

Keywords: Electrospinning; Fibers; Polymeric patch; Pressurized gyration; Preterm birth; Progesterone.

MeSH terms

Administration, Intravaginal
Animals
Chlorocebus aethiops
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Pregnancy
Premature Birth* / prevention & control
Progesterone*
Progestins
Rats
Vero Cells

Substances

Progestins
Progesterone