Compositions and Methods for Inactivation of Pathogens at Genital Tract Surfaces
OwnerThomas R. Moench, Deirdre E. O'Hanlon +1inventors
InventorsThomas R. Moench, Deirdre E. O'Hanlon, Richard A. Cone
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Abstract
The present disclosure includes compositions and methods of inactivating pathogens of a genital tract of a female. The compositions include L-lactic acid substantially free of D-lactic acid. In particular, an intravaginal ring for sustained release of L-lactic acid out of a reservoir containing multi-gram quantities of L-lactic acid, with minimal osmotically induced swelling or pressurization of the reservoir during prolonged use is provided.
Claims21
A device comprising at least one wall separating a composition from a genital tract surface, said composition comprising at least one gram of lactic acid, wherein the permeability of said wall for said lactic acid is at least half the permeability of said wall for water.
A method of decreasing the pH of a genital tract comprising positioning within the genital tract for at least one week a device comprising at least one wall separating a composition from the genital tract surface, said composition comprising at least one gram of lactic acid, wherein the permeability of said wall for said lactic acid is at least half the permeability of said wall for water.
A method of treating a pathogenic infection of a genital tract comprising positioning for at least one week within the genital tract a device comprising at least one wall separating a composition from the genital tract surface, said composition comprising at least one gram of lactic acid, wherein the permeability of said wall for said lactic acid is at least half the permeability of said wall for water, and wherein the pathogenic infection is selected from the group consisting of bacterial vaginosis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Trichomonas vaginalis, and combinations thereof.
A device for delivering a high dose of lactic acid to a genital tract comprising:
- lactic acid in a substantially powder form;
- a wall separating the lactic acid from a surface of the genital tract, said wall including a polyurethane polymer, wherein the permeability of said wall for said lactic acid is at least half the permeability of said wall for water;
- and
- a compartment including a gas, wherein the compartment extends along the length of the device.
A genital tract surface device comprising:
- a tubular ring having a wall, said wall defining a space within said tubular ring, wherein said space contains at least one gram of an L-lactic acid composition, substantially free of D-lactic acid, and wherein the rate of diffusion of L-lactic acid from the space through the wall of said tubular ring is at least half the rate of diffusion of water through the wall into the space.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.