University of Washington researchers have developed a new contraceptive that for the first time offers women a discreet way to protect against both sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. An electrically spun nanofabric, the technology is designed to dissolve in the body, releasing preventative drugs. The goal: to empower women to make their own reproductive choices safely and cheaply.
Existing contraceptives can safeguard women against both unwanted pregnancies and STDs, such as the female condom and nonoxynol-9. But the former method lacks discretion and the latter "in vivo is not safe for multipurpose prevention," researcher Kim Woodrow says in an email. "To date, no single product exists that women can use discreetly for simultaneous and effective prevention of STIs (including HIV) and contraception," she says.
The researchers used electrospinning, a method of creating fibers from liquid in an electric field. The fibers are easily manipulated to control material properties like solubility, strength and shape. After the dissolved polymers and antiretrovirals form fibers in the electric field, they stick to a collecting plate.

The researchers are then left with a stretchy fabric that functions in quite a few ways. It can be inserted directly in the body or act as a coating on vaginal rings or other contraceptive products. It blocks sperm and can release chemical contraceptives and antivirals. The scientists created fabrics that dissolve in minutes for immediate protection and others that dissolve over a few days for sustained delivery. Mixing fibers into one nanofabric could yield both results.
The team wants to focus its efforts in places where HIV is common and protection might not be as widely available, especially if sexual assault is common. As the researchers further develop their product, they could incorporate fibers that shield against many STIs and multiple anti-HIV drugs to discourage and protect against drug-resistant strains.
[UW Today]
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Red and Green for Christmas would be cheery, lol. ;)
I do hope this reduces disease and unplanned pregnancy, with no negative side effects from the Nano particles.
Yeah, lets dissolve some nanofabrics in our bodies. Is this new from the makers of Thalidomide?
The biggest advance in preventing HIV might be the thickness and texture of condoms so they are used. HIV can be prevented if exposure is detected immediately with a printed test on the condom it’s self and treated right after exposure. All this vision requires is that the nanotubes test for HIV be altered to a printed version on and in the condom it’s self. If it turns blue then both parties immediately take a drug regiment to prevent the transmission of the infection or treatment for HIV. Condoms could test for all sorts of medical conditions printed on the same condom. STD’s, diabetes, even a flu epidemic. It’s the perfect vial to hold and test for disease and no blood to draw.
Do we need to go back and edit all the scientific literature and insert "nano" wherever technology is on the microscope level? Should we be interested in this "better condom" because the article employs the latest gimmick in the English language, the prefix "nano"? If it's "nano" it's gotta be good, is that it?
Nano is a favorite current scientific tech term as much as robot is over used verse the technology just being automated or a computer. There are few true robots compared that are called a robot.
Though, I do love to see my name in the headlines, ..... Happy sigh!
LOL, New elf hats from Santa.... ha ha snort...
Haven't ya ever notice from the Christmas cartoons, those elves are everywhere and there are a ka-zillion of those little guys. Those elves multiple like rabbits, when they are not making toys. Imagine if Santa didn't keep them mostly busy making toys..... WoWzers! It would be an elf'n bonanza! I sure hope this new elf hat works, lol!
So elves need this tech more then we do. Nanofiber nanotube reinforced kevlar condoms of the future!!
Unlike a condom a women cannot see the proposed cervical cap with this material. However, if this is designed and powered by RFID tags that change their dominance do to resistance in the test location to indicate the presence of a specific virus. A small device that is carried reads her anonymous RFID tags if the dominant signal changes to indicate a virus a blue tooth signal is sent to an app on her cell phone. The phone alerts her and her doctor to put her on antiviral drugs to prevent transmission of the infection such as HIV, Herpes, or even deadly influenza epidemic. Put on cervical caps, or IUD, detection is done on sperm in her body before she has been infected and anti viral regiment prevents transmission if started immediately after detection.
What does it taste like?
It's a good thing the Romney/Fox/Ryan ticket got clobbered. I can hear President Romney now, announcing an executive order preventing the use of this product simply because it is discreet and effective. That's just not acceptable!
What an exciting new development in women's healthcare! Until this unique product hits the market, you can do your part to prevent the spread of STIs and HIV by shopping at ConCon.
Visit www.ConCon.org to see everything we have to offer, plus each purchase helps improve global sexual health by reducing the number of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies globally!
ConCon.org's Mission:
Conscious Contraceptives is a globally conscious organization delivering contraceptives directly to the consumer through the convenient and discreet online store at ConCon.org. Inspired by the "one for one" charity model established by Tom's shoes (www.toms.com), a portion of every purchase from ConCon.org is contributed towards donating desperately needed contraceptives to underserved communities both domestically and in foreign countries. All of ConCon.org's donations are purchased abroad to further support local manufacturing and commerce. In addition to the donations, ConCon.org partners with US-based and international organizations to promote ongoing sexual education to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the number of unplanned pregnancies throughout the world. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good, we transform our customers into benefactors.
@teotowaki : you are not helping.
@ tmarti69: I take it from the text that it is meant very much for the turd world. These women are not empowered and often have no or only difficult access to medical care. In these societies "real men" don't use condoms, and they do not allow their women to use them. And if the men catch AIDS, it can be easily cured by raping a virgin. So all together I am all for development and marketing asap, Just do not make it more complicated than necessary. In strife torn countries like Sudan and the DRC, not to speak of the slums all over the world, I wonder how many pregnancies result from rape.
@ConCon IUD’s are of particular interest because they are implanted, yet removable. So, could they be altered to indicate ovulation; a sort of rhythm method sensor. A simple sounding alarm on the IUD tells the couple to pull out and avoid sex during that time, or use a condom. Although this might seem redundant it is a totally socially acceptable method with even staunch Catholics. Besides less material being flushed by the body will reduce the risks of infection, and increase the safety of the IUD. A simple finger test could also be used to trigger the alarm, or RFID tags to devise to cell phone would also work. These devises could be altered to find and fill social middle ground as well as prevent diseases like HIV.