Product/Service Development

Patrick Kiser of Northwestern University in the U.S. proposes to synthesize new polymeric materials that mimic the properties of mucosal tissue and to use these materials in the development and manufacture of condoms. These technologies could improve sensation and the condoms would be readily manufacturable for deployment across the globe.

Lakshminarayanan Ragupathy of HLL Lifecare Limited in India will make a male condom from the biodegradable polymer poly(glycerol sebacate) as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional condoms with improved performance. In contrast to currently used condoms, poly(glycerol sebacate) may be compatible with oil-based lubricants, and can be more easily combined with other materials, such as anti-viral drugs, contraceptives and vasodilators, to enhance safety and user experience.

Mahua Choudhury of Texas A&M Health Science Center in the U.S. will develop low-cost male condoms from a strong and highly elastic three-dimensional hydropolymer (hydrogel) embedded with an antioxidant to enhance sexual experience and help prevent HIV transmission. Antioxidants such as quercetin act as stimulants that could enhance feelings of pleasure by promoting smooth muscle relaxation, increasing arterial blood flow, and maintaining nitric oxide levels, which helps to stimulate and maintain erection, and they also have anti-HIV activity.

James Zhijun Lu of Regenex Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. in China will reduce the thickness of natural latex condoms to enhance sensitivity during use. Current condom thickness is dictated by the relative strength of the material, which must be maintained to prevent disease transmission and unwanted pregnancies. However, thicker condoms inhibit sensation during use. Natural latex is weakened below a thickness of 40?m, mainly due to the formation of different sized aggregates in emulsion.

Sergio Bautista in Mexico (INSP MEXICO and Consorcio de Investigación Sobre VIH SIDA TB CISIDAT A.C.), and his partners Elena Bertozzi (Quinnipiac University) and Raluca Buzdugan (University of California, Berkeley) will develop an online game-based intervention to motivate men who have sex with men in Mexico City to get regularly tested for HIV and adhere to treatment. Along with input from the target group, they will develop a humorous game in the context of an anonymous online community that simulates real-world interactions with potential partners.

Steve Strauss and colleagues at Ultimate Medical Products LLC in the U.S. will refine their condom applicator to promote the use of male condoms by enabling them to be put on more easily and rapidly. Most condoms are applied manually, which can be cumbersome and cause loss of arousal. The applicator they have designed is a simple, inexpensive, and disposable device that can be incorporated into regular condom packaging. It is quick and easy to use, can be applied with one hand, and ensures the condom is correctly fitted to prevent STD transmission and unwanted pregnancy.

Wei Zhang of QX-System in the U.S. will design a simple applicator to make it easier and more comfortable to use female condoms. Although they may be more enjoyable to use, female condoms are much less popular than male condoms. This is partly due to the difficulty of inserting them correctly, which can be awkward and involve actions deemed inappropriate in some cultures. Their sliding tampon applicator is a flexible tube surrounded by a soft balloon, which is positioned inside the female condom and can be inserted like a regular tampon.

Shengxi Chen of Arizona State University Foundation in the U.S. will produce a male condom using a material to mimic the surface of the skin for a more natural feel, coupled with a chemical to activate erection. The surface of skin cells is both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, however conventional condoms, such as those made from polyisoprene, are hydrophobic and therefore feel unnatural.

Daniel Resnic and colleagues of Origami Healthcare Products, Inc. in the U.S. will refine their internal condom, which is made of soft, pliant silicone and designed to improve pleasure and safety for both vaginal and anal intercourse, and test it in a small, randomized crossover controlled trial. Classical condoms made of latex or polyurethane are designed primarily for functionality and have not been approved for anal intercourse, which is a major mode of HIV transmission.

Mache Seibel and team from HealthRock, LLC in the U.S. have invented a female condom that is inflated and positioned using air pressure and provides additional stimulation, which they will test in the laboratory and in clinical trials. The only available female condom has not been widely accepted partly because it is difficult to position, conspicuous, reduces sensation, and can make sounds during use. The new condom is made from polyurethane to minimize sound emission, and the inflation mechanism ensures quicker insertion.