In ancient times, condoms were made from sheaths of linen, leather, or animal intestine. Time and technology led to more effective versions fashioned out of vulcanized rubber, polyurethane, and latex. Now biomedical engineers David Katz of Duke University and Patrick Kiser of the University of Utah may have hit on the next big thing in condomology: an HIV-preventing polymer that is sensitive to both heat and sperm.
The gel becomes a liquid on contact with sperm.
A prophylactic polymer is a gel at body temperature.
Designed for women, their "smart molecular condom" is liquid at room temperature but solidifies into a gel that stays in place for up to 24 hours when warmed by the body. When the gel comes in contact with semen, the change in pH causes it to reliquefy and release an HIV-killing microbicide. Kiser and Katz are working on both a spermicide-laden version and one without ...
