In vitro evaluation of microbial adhesion to a contraceptive vaginal ring with a new polymer composition

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate in vitro the amount of Candida albicans and Lactobacillus acidophilus adhering to the surface of Ornibel, a contraceptive vaginal ring with a new polymer composition, in comparison with NuvaRing.

Methods: Ornibel and NuvaRing were tested for adhesion of microorganisms in vitro. The vaginal rings were aseptically sectioned into 1 cm segments. Suspensions of C. albicans (1–2 × 10⁷ colony-forming units [CFU]/ml) and L. acidophilus (1–2 × 10⁸ CFU/ml) were prepared and incubated either in monoculture or as co-culture with the ring segments. After incubation, adherent C. albicans and L. acidophilus were quantified by plate counting.

Results: In monoculture, the measured amount of adhesion of C. albicans on the ring surface was significantly lower with Ornibel compared with NuvaRing (p = 6.77 × 10⁻⁵), while the adherence of L. acidophilus did not differ between the two rings. Similarly, when co-incubated with C. albicans, the number of adhering L. acidophilus microorganisms was significantly lower with Ornibel compared with NuvaRing (p = .018) . This reduction also resulted in significantly lower levels of adhering L. acidophilus in co-culture compared with L. acidophilus when incubated alone (p = .003).

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the adherence of C. albicans, as well as that of L. acidophilus when co-cultured with C. albicans, is lower with the Ornibel vaginal ring compared with NuvaRing. These in vitro findings warrant future human trials using molecular techniques to assess the vaginal microbiota composition and to establish whether Ornibel can support vaginal health.

摘要

目的：本研究的目的是以NuvaRing为对照, 在体外评价两种避孕环Ornibel和NuvaRing表面粘附白色念珠菌和嗜酸乳杆菌的数量, Ornibel是一种新型聚合物制作的阴道避孕环。

方法：采用微生物体外培养的方法, 对Ornibel和NuvaRing表面粘附的微生物进行检测。无菌的阴道环切片成1cm的片段。制备了白色念珠菌（1-2 × 10⁷ CFU/ml）和嗜酸念珠菌（1-2 × 10⁸ CFU/ml）的悬液, 并与避孕环片段单独培养或者共培养。孵育后, 用平板计数法对白色念珠菌和嗜酸乳杆菌进行定量计数。

结果：在单一培养条件下, 与NuvaRing相比, Ornibel环上白念珠菌的粘附量明显降低（p = 6.77 × 10^-5）, 嗜酸乳杆菌粘附量在两个环之间无明显差异。同样, 当与白念珠菌共培养时, 与NuvaRing相比, Ornibel环上嗜酸乳杆菌的粘附量显著减少（p = 0.018）。当与酸乳杆菌共培养时, 与NuvaRing相比, Ornibel环上嗜酸乳杆菌的粘附量也显著减少（p = 0.003）。

结论：研究结果表明, 与NuvaRing相比, Ornibel环上白色念珠菌, 共培养时嗜酸乳杆菌的量明显减少。这些体外研究结果为将来利用分子技术进行人体试验提供了依据评估阴道微生物群的组成, 并确定Ornibel环是否能保持阴道健康。

Keywords:

• Bacterial adherence
• Candida albicans
• contraceptive vaginal ring
• ethinylestradiol
• etonogestrel
• Lactobacillus acidophilus

Disclosure statement

All authors are employees of Exeltis Healthcare, a member of Insud Pharma.