New "tampon" may one day prevent contraction of HIV

Scientists have developed a new and unexpected weapon in the ongoing battle against the HIV virus.

Russia Today reports that the new weapon is a "tampon" that women can wear minutes before having sexual intercourse. The tampon delivers medicine that prevents the spread of the HIV virus, allowing for sex without a condom, while also protecting against the spread of the disease. Previously, condoms were the only way to prevent contracting HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS.

The tampon was developed at the University of Washington and relies upon a process known as electrospinning. Electrospinning is a process whereby an electrical charge extracts miniscule fibers from liquid.

The tampon is soaked in an antiretroviral drug called maraviroc, which treats HIV. The electrospinning separates the drug from the tampon, which mixes with the liquids of the vagina and allows it to enter the vagina. The act of sex further spreads the drug, increasing its protective effects.

While the tampon has been shown to be effective, there are still practical problems preventing it from commercial development. One of these problems is creating a dose large enough to be effective that does not leak from the tampon because there is so much of the medicinal gel.

Another issue is the time that it would take for the gel to be effective. The researchers are striving for a product that works more or less instantaneously. 

They also hope to receive funding from the U.S. government because they must still do more research and development. They hope with new funding they can continue their research and begin to test the product's efficacy on living creatures such as rabbits. They believe that because both the fibers and drug in question are already approved for medical use, funding will not be too difficult a hurdle to clear.