Multi-morbidity and Highly Effective Contraception in Reproductive-Age Women in the US Intermountain West: a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Women with chronic health conditions benefit from reproductive planning and access to highly effective contraception.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of and relationship between chronic health conditions and use of highly effective contraception among reproductive-age women.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using electronic health records.

Silk-Elastinlike Protein Polymer Liquid Chemoembolic for Localized Release of Doxorubicin and Sorafenib.

Locoregional therapies for cancer are minimally invasive procedures in which the treatment is administered directly into cancerous tissue. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is used to treat intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TACE uses an embolic material to block blood flow while coadministering a chemotherapeutic to the neoplastic tissue.

Polymeric materials for embolic and chemoembolic applications.

Percutaneous transcatheter embolization procedures involve the selective occlusion of blood vessels. Occlusive agents, referred to as embolics, vary in material characteristics including chemical composition, mechanical properties, and the ability to concurrently deliver drugs. Commercially available polymeric embolics range from gelatin foam to synthetic polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol).

In vivo evaluation of matrix metalloproteinase responsive silk-elastinlike protein polymers for cancer gene therapy.

Silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs) have been effectively used as controlled release matrices for the delivery of viruses for cancer gene therapy in preclinical models. However, the degradability of these polymers needs to be tuned for improved localized intratumoral gene delivery. Using recombinant techniques, systematic modifications in distinct regions of the polymer backbone, namely, within the elastin blocks, silk blocks, and adjacent to silk and elastin blocks, have been made to impart sensitivity to specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) known to be overexpressed in the tumor environment.

In situ gelling silk-elastinlike protein polymer for transarterial chemoembolization.

Hepatocellular carcinoma annually affects over 700,000 people worldwide and trends indicate increasing prevalence. Patients ineligible for surgery undergo loco-regional treatments such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) to selectively target tumoral blood supply. Using a microcatheter, chemotherapeutics are infused followed by an embolic agent, or the drug is encapsulated by the embolic moiety; simultaneously inducing stasis while delivering localized chemotherapy.

Effect of shear on physicochemical properties of matrix metalloproteinase responsive silk-elastinlike hydrogels.

Silk-elastinlike protein polymers (SELPs) have been fabricated as matrices for controlled delivery of bioactive agents. In this application the need for an environmentally responsive, degradable polymer has risen to improve treatment outcomes. To satisfy this need, we have designed, synthesized, and expressed SELPs with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) degradable sequences inserted in distinct regions of the polymer backbone.

Controlled release from recombinant polymers.

Recombinant polymers provide a high degree of molecular definition for correlating structure with function in controlled release. The wide array of amino acids available as building blocks for these materials lend many advantages including biorecognition, biodegradability, potential biocompatibility, and control over mechanical properties among other attributes. Genetic engineering and DNA manipulation techniques enable the optimization of structure for precise control over spatial and temporal release.

Engineering a degradable polyurethane intravaginal ring for sustained delivery of dapivirine.

We describe the engineering of a degradable intravaginal ring (IVR) for the delivery of the potent HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor dapivirine. The degradable polymer used in fabricating the device incorporated poly(caprolactone) ester blocks in a poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol ABA type polyurethane backbone. The polymer was designed to maintain its structure for 1 month during usage and then degrade in the environment post-disposal.

Polyurethane intravaginal ring for controlled delivery of dapivirine, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor of HIV-1.

Women-controlled methods for prevention of male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV-1 are urgently needed. Providing inhibitory concentrations of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors to impede the replication of the virus in the female genital tissue offers a mechanism for prophylaxis of HIV-1. To this end, an intravaginal ring device that can provide long duration delivery of dapivirine, a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor of HIV-1, was developed utilizing a medical-grade polyether urethane.