In vivo optical imaging of human vaginal gel thickness distributions with a probe-based, dual-modality instrument.

ABSTRACT. We used a probe-based dual-modality optical imaging instrument to measure in vivo coating thickness distributions of a gel distributed along the vaginal lumen, in a clinical study. The gel was a surrogate for one delivering an anti-HIV topical microbicide.

Design and validation of a multiplexed low coherence interferometry instrument for in vivo clinical measurement of microbicide gel thickness distribution.

We present a multiplexed, Fourier-domain low coherence interferometry (mLCI) instrument for in vivo measurement of intravaginal microbicide gel coating thickness distribution over the surface of the vaginal epithelium. The mLCI instrument uses multiple delivery fibers to acquire depth resolved reflection profiles across large scanned tissue areas. Here mLCI has been adapted into an endoscopic system with a custom imaging module for simultaneous, co-registered measurements with fluorimetric scans of the same surface.

Semi-solid gels function as physical barriers to human immunodeficiency virus transport in vitro.

Vaginal gels may act as physical barriers to HIV during sexual transmission. However, the extent and significance of this effect are not well understood. During male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV, semen containing infectious HIV is present within the lower female reproductive tract.