“HIV prevention requires a multidisciplinary approach, even when focusing on a particular biomedical intervention such as anti-HIV microbicides. This book offers a comprehensive, integrative, and balanced overview on various aspects of microbicides, including mechanisms of transmission, drug development, and clinical and regulatory aspects, with a special emphasis on formulation. It is therefore equally useful for specialized basic, pharmacological, clinical, and biotechnological scientists and will hopefully stimulate future interdisciplinary research for prevention.”

Prof. Guido Vanham - University of Antwerp, Belgium

“This treatise offers an insightful analysis on the opportunities that drug delivery technologies can afford in HIV microbicide development. It provides first-of-its-kind comprehensive overview of the challenges in microbicide delivery as well as opportunities to develop novel formulations such as polymeric implants, stimuli-responsive nanotechnology, and strategies to alter the microbiome. It also addresses the issues of socio-economics, compliance, and regulatory oversight in the development of novel microbicides.”

Prof. Mansoor M. Amiji - Northeastern University, USA

• Compiles for the first time in one book current knowledge and recent developments on the field of microbicide drug delivery and formulation


• Includes contributions from both leading academics in the field and scientists engaged in the development of products currently undergoing clinical testing


• Stands as a reference work of the multidisciplinary and rational development of anti-HIV microbicide products

The worldwide impact of HIV/AIDS is well recognized. In the absence of a cure, prophylaxis represents a cornerstone in the battle against infection. One promising strategy comprises the use around the time of sexual intercourse of vaginal/rectal products containing antiviral compounds, termed microbicides. It is now recognized that specific development of drug dosage forms and/or drug delivery systems is an indispensable aspect for the success of microbicides. Different groups strived over the last decade to optimize the biophysical and technological performance of traditional dosage forms (gels, tablets and suppositories) in order to fulfill the specificities of microbicides use, without neglecting users’ preferences and affordability issues. Moreover, new formulation approaches, such as vaginal rings and films, nanotechnology-based systems, stimuli-sensitive formulations, targeted drug delivery systems, among others have been proposed and are currently undergoing pre-clinical or even clinical testing. This book provides for the first time a thorough and critical overview of current aspects, recent developments and trends in the formulation and drug delivery concerning anti-HIV microbicides by leading scientists in the field. Additionally, pertinent regulatory aspects and socioeconomical issues related to the subject are discussed.

Scientists engaged in HIV research and prophylaxis, vaginal and rectal drug delivery, drug development, pharmaceutical regulatory science, and socioeconomic and behavioral research pertaining sexually transmitted diseases; Graduate-level students in the fields of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.