Ultrathin Adaptable Condoms for Enhanced Sensitivity

Richard Chartoff of the University of Oregon in the U.S. will develop a high-strength, ultra-thin, shape-memory material for making male condoms. He will tailor polyurethane elastic polymers (elastomers) to reduce thickness and increase strength, and then program them using temperature to fix a temporary shape that can then be recovered upon exposure to body temperature during application, thereby improving tactility and enhancing sensitivity. These elastomers could also be conjugated with nanoparticles containing molecules with antimicrobial activity for preventing sexually transmitted diseases.