Source: Good News Network
Family planning for women might one day be as simple as putting on an earring.
A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology describes a technique for administering contraceptive hormones through special backings on jewelry such as earrings, wristwatches, rings or necklaces.
The contraceptive hormones are contained in patches applied to portions of the jewelry in contact with the skin, allowing the drugs to be absorbed into the body.
Initial testing suggests the contraceptive jewelry may deliver sufficient amounts of hormone to provide contraception, though no human testing has been done yet. A goal for the new technique is to improve user compliance with drug regimens that require regular dosages. Beyond contraceptives, the jewelry-based technique might also be used for delivering other drugs through the skin.
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“The more contraceptive options that are available, the more likely it is that the needs of individual women can be met,” said Mark Prausnitz of the institute’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
“Because putting on jewelry may already be part of a woman’s daily routine, this technique may facilitate compliance with the drug regimen. This technique could more effectively empower some women to prevent unintended pregnancies.”
This proof-of-concept research, which was published in the Journal of Controlled Release earlier this month, was supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Contraceptive jewelry adapts transdermal patch technology that is already used to administer drugs that prevent motion sickness, support smoking cessation, and control the symptoms of menopause, but have never been incorporated into jewelry before. Contraceptive patches are also already available, but Prausnitz believes pairing them with jewelry may prove attractive to some women – and allow more discreet use of the drug delivery technology.
“There is a lot of experience with making and using conventional transdermal patches,” he said. “We are taking this established technology, making the patch smaller and using jewelry to help apply it. We think that earring patches can expand the scope of transdermal patches to provide additional impact.”
Upon applying the concept in animal models, the researchers simulated the removal of the earrings during sleep by applying the patches for 16 hours, then removing them for eight hours. Testing suggested that even though levels dropped while the earrings were…
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