Delivery Technologies for Women’s Health Applications

The treatment of women’s health-related conditions, including reproductive tract and pregnancy disorders, faces distinct challenges and microenvironments, such as the vaginal mucosa and the placenta, which may be overcome by nanotechnology- and biomaterials-based drug delivery technologies. Here, we discuss the design and optimization of therapeutic nanoparticle and biomaterial systems to deliver drugs for the treatment of conditions in non-pregnant and pregnant women, including vaginal infections, reproductive tract disorders, pregnancy conditions and fetal congenital disorders. We highlight how drug delivery systems can be engineered for specific administration routes such as vaginal, in utero and intraperitoneal administration, to penetrate biological barriers such as the vaginal mucosa, and to provide sustained and efficient drug delivery at the site of interest. Although these delivery systems have mainly been explored in preclinical settings thus far, implementing women-specific design considerations in delivery technologies will allow their optimization and clinical translation for the treatment of women’s health conditions. Therapeutic nanoparticle and biomaterial systems can be specifically designed to deliver drugs for the treatment of women’s health-related conditions. This Review discusses the engineering and optimization of delivery technologies for women’s health applications, including vaginal infections, reproductive tract disorders, pregnancy conditions and congenital disorders.