RAZVOJ FUNKCIONALNIH MEDICINSKIH CELULOZNIH TAMPONOV ZA GINEKOLOŠKO UPORABO (Slovene)

Sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STDs) are among the most frequent human diseases and they can affect everyone. Primary victims are not only the women, but also their partners in the sense of both physical and psychological. Although several new antimicrobial agents have been developed in recent years and successfully used against sexually transmitted microbes, the prevention and treatment of majority of STDs still represent a significant challenge. Moreover, previous topical forms as solutions, gels, suppositories, vaginalets may show defects from the practical and acceptability point of view. Nowadays the use of cellulose tampons by women is very widespread and it opens a new route to be explored in the field of gynaecology. The project’s primary objective is, thus, to develop a new medical tampon for gynaecological use based on incorporation of chitosan microcapsules (as an antimicrobial agent and/or drug delivery system) onto cellulose tampon. The effect of this medical tampon on cervical cells and the environment of the vagina will be studied based on analysing the interaction between medical tampon and vagina environment (in –vitro and in-vivo testing). The incorporation of chitosan microparticles onto cellulose will provide an optimal and controlled diffusion of antimicrobial substance and/or drug into the vaginal and cervical mucosa membrane. Tampons with this composition will possess for the first time a wide spectrum of antimicrobial properties against the pathogens cause most of the vaginal infections and STDs. These medical tampons will have the best chances for world market positioning as the most advanced tampon with healing and health preventing properties and will therefore, increase innovative value of the industrial producer of sanitary materials, Tosama d.d. These tampons will be suitable for a range of medical use as a therapy by venereal infections and diseases, for post-operative tampons, tampons for pregnant women, anal plug, and as tampons for incontinent women.

The project significantly advanced our understanding of cellulose material modification control regarding physicochemical treatment in order to develop new functionalised medical tampons for gynaecological treatment. The results of the proposed research lead to a better or new knowledge of interfaces between aqueous medium and chitosan, chitosan and cellulose, as well as chitosan/cellulose composites and mucous membranes. Methods for reversible binding of chitosan microcapsules onto cellos tampons were developed, as well as for their release. The project knowledge provided the development of a medical tampon as a gynaecological treatment based on the incorporation of microscale antimicrobial particles. These newly developed products-medical tampons produce an increase in the Tosama d.d. competitive position, and a massive breakthrough of new product onto the existing market, possible.

Although several new antimicrobial agents have been developed in recent years and successfully used against sexually transmitted microbes, the prevention and treatment of majority of VAGINAL INFECTIONS and STDs still represent a significant challenge. With this medical tampon, gynaecological sector will get alternative therapies to offer them to the women suffering of vagina infections which increases from year to year. These newly developed products-medical tampons will therefore, produce an increase in the Tosama d.d. competitive position, and a massive breakthrough of new product onto the existing market, possible. Turning point from traditional industry to the production of high-added sanitary products will extend Tosama d.d. market niches to medical and pharmaceutical, including: therapy by vaginal infections and those infections regarding sexually transmitted diseases, post-operative materials, tampons for pregnant women, anal plugs and tampons for incontinent people. It is expected that additionally about 20 % of new (European, World) market channels would be formed in comparison with present market. The initial sales projection is 100 million items, with the further growth of about 1 % per annum. Consequently new jobs will be created (especially for educated people).Already two educated people were employeed in Tosama Moreover, new cellulose materials can, due to their specific bioactive properties (in addition to biodegradability and the potential of renovability) replace some materials and, thus, they could find new commercial applicability. The technology thatwas developed during this project could in this way also be applied in other industrial fields within Slovenia such as: - the paper industry, - the chemical industry and - pharmacy and medicine. At the moment technology is transferred to paper industry and pharmacy.