Designing a new vaginal prophylaxis for the release of biocompatible polymeric virucides

The prevention of sexually transmitted viral infections such as, human immunodeficiency viruses
(HIV), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) and human papilloma virus (HPV) for example, is important globally. These viruses can have life threatening and/or life altering effects and many are not currently treatable. Prevention rather than treatment is the best approach to dealing with sexually transmitted viral infections. Where vaccines are available, infection rates can be significantly reduced. For those viruses that have no vaccine, prevention via other means is necessary. One approach often considered, but not yet implemented successfully for sexually transmitted infections, is the use of vaginal inserts to release antivirals prophylactically. The current state-of-the-art anti-HIV prophylaxis is a vaginal ring insert that releases an anti-retroviral (ARV) drug, which has seen only limited success in Phase-III trials. These antivirals are only effective after infection, are inherently toxic and lead to viruses developing drug resistance, raising concerns that long-term prophylaxis use may lead to drug resistant viral strains.

Through the use of 'kill on contact' antiviral polymers (Polycides) (which have recently been developed in the Jones Lab) it will be possible to tackle the problem of transmission using an entirely new approach. As a prophylaxis our Polycides breakthrough will function before infection occurs meaning there is no opportunity for resistance to develop.

This project will focus on the design of a new hydrogel-based long-term delivery system for these polycides, the study of the release profiles and the in-vitro studies to show protection of cells from viral infection.

There are numerous beneficiaries of this Advanced Biomedical Materials CDT. Firstly and of short term impact are the PhD students themselves. They will receive extensive research specific and professional/transferable skills training throughout the 4 years of the programme. They will have access to state of the art facilties and world leading academics, industry and clinicians. The training and potential placements are designed to maximise the impact of their research in terms of dissemination and movement of their research along the translation pathway.

Longer term benefits are that this distinct cohort will become the future UK Biomedical Materials leaders and be able to use their bespoke training and network within the cohort to collaborate on future worldwide funding opportunities and drive UK research in this area.

UK and international academics will benefit as they will gain the next generation of highly skilled postdoctoral researchers with knowledge and expertise not only in their specific research area but of industry, regulatory and clinical aspects.

UK and international industry will benefit - in the short term they will gain academic based research to further develop products and in the longer term have a pool of highly skilled graduates.

Clinicians will benefit from collaborative research and also the development of new and novel products to enhance the treatment of a variety of trauma and disease based needs from biomaterials.

The public will benefit as end users as patients that will have their quality of life improved from the products developed in the CDT and will be educated in novel technologies and materials to repair the human body. The UK economy will benefit from the reduced healthcare costs associated with the new and improved medical products developed in this CDT and subsequently from the trained graduates. The UK economy will also benefit from the increased revenue from medical sales products from the UK industrial partners we will be working with.

The impact of this CDT will be realised by direct academic, clinical and industrial engagement with the students allowing efficient and state of the at training and fast translation of developing products. Students will also be trained in knowledge exchange and will use these skills to disseminate their research to, and liaise with, the key stakeholders - the academic, industrial, clinical and public sectors. We will ensure widening participation routes are addressed in this CDT in order to include equality and diversity not only in our initial CDT student cohort but in future researcher generations to come.