Endowed Polyphenols in Advanced Delivery Systems for Vaginal Infections

Abstract

Vaginal infections (VIs) are the result of the nefarious vaginal polymicrobial universe (i.e., Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Candida albicans, etc.), the inhabitants of which multiply and infect the surface of the vaginal epithelium, which serves as a scaffold for the adhesion of pathogenic poly-complexes with interactive abilities. VIs affect over 1 billion women per year and have a stunning annual relapse rate of 30%. These conditions impact women’s quality of life and fertility and cause oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) persistence. VIs are typically treated with oral (i.e., Flagyl®) and localized drug tablets and creams/gels (i.e., Clindesse®), with potential leakage from the vaginal tract upon administration leading to the failure of the treatment. This study intends to highlight polyphenols as potential therapeutic agents in terms of their benefits and limitations and suggest strategies to increase their effectiveness. Polyphenols are natural compounds rich in phenolic structures which have an impact on this type of pathology and deserve the utmost attention from researchers. Natural polyphenols have several advantages: renewability, biodegradability, low environmental impact, biocompatibility, application versatility, bioactive properties, and the potential for sustainable applications. These compounds, formulated in advanced delivery systems, may natively exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. The main objective of this review is to highlight the importance of researching new and effective formulations to prevent and treat VIs based on natural, controlled, and sustainable systems.

Keywords

• bioactive compounds
• sustainability
• encapsulation
• vaginal infections