Nanomaterials Solutions for Contraception: Concerns, Advances, and Prospects

Abstract

Preventing unintentional pregnancy is one of the goals of a global public health policy to minimize effects on individuals, families, and society. Various contraceptive formulations with high effectiveness and acceptance, including intrauterine devices, hormonal patches for females, and condoms and vasectomy for males, have been developed and adopted over the last decades. However, distinct breakthroughs of contraceptive techniques have not yet been achieved, while the associated long-term adverse effects are insurmountable, such as endocrine system disorder along with hormone administration, invasive ligation, and slowly restored fertility after removal of intrauterine devices. Spurred by developments of nanomaterials and bionanotechnologies, advanced contraceptives could be fulfilled via nanomaterial solutions with much safer and more controllable and effective approaches to meet various and specific needs for women and men at different reproductive stages. Nanomedicine techniques have been extended to develop contraceptive methods, such as the targeted drug delivery and controlled release of hormone using nanocarriers for females and physical stimulation assisted vasectomy using functional nanomaterials via photothermal treatment or magnetic hyperthermia for males. Nanomaterial solutions for advanced contraceptives offer significantly improved biosafety, noninvasive administration, and controllable reversibility. This review summarizes the nanomaterial solutions to female and male contraceptives including the working mechanisms, clinical concerns, and their merits and demerits. This work also reviewed the nanomaterials that have been adopted in contraceptive applications. In addition, we further discuss safety considerations and future perspectives of nanomaterials in nanostrategy development for next-generation contraceptives. We expect that nanomaterials would potentially replace conventional materials for contraception in the near future.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Reproductive Disorders

“…The progressions in the field of nanotechnology have resulted in notable enhancements in contraceptive methodologies throughout the last several decades . The effectiveness of immuno-contraceptive vaccines using chitosan nanoparticles has been shown in the delivery of peptides and proteins, showcasing enhanced uptake by dendritic cells and extended presence in lymph nodes . Further investigation revealed that the use of disposable polymer-based polyethylene sebacate particles demonstrated efficacy in the administration of an HSA peptide-1 vaccination.…”

“…242 The effectiveness of immuno-contraceptive vaccines using chitosan nanoparticles has been shown in the delivery of peptides and proteins, showcasing enhanced uptake by dendritic cells and extended presence in lymph nodes. 243 Further investigation revealed that the use of disposable polymer-based polyethylene sebacate particles demonstrated efficacy in the administration of an HSA peptide-1 vaccination. The use of chitosan-DNA nanoparticles has shown significant efficacy and safety in augmenting the immune response of a mCRISP1 DNA contraceptive vaccination.…”

Cuproptosis: Advances in Stimulus‐Responsive Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy

“…Since its initial report in 2022, the concept of cuproptosis has garnered considerable attention, finding applications in diverse fields such as cancer treatment, antibacterial therapies, and Alzheimer's disease research. [115][116][117][118] The study of copper, long regarded as a compelling subject, has unveiled promising anti-cancer potentials through investigations into cuproptosis inducers. The rapid evolution of nanotechnology in the medical domain has propelled the development of agents inducing cuproptosis.…”

Carrier‐Free Self‐Assembly Nano‐Sonosensitizers for Sonodynamic‐Amplified Cuproptosis‐Ferroptosis in Glioblastoma Therapy

“…As regards the mechanism of action, ferredoxin‐1 (FDX1) and lipoyl synthase (LIAS) regulate dihydrolipoamide S‐acetyltransferase (DLAT) to undergo lipoylation. [ 21–23 ] This results in the reduction of Cu 2+ and the oligomerization of lipoylated DLAT, leading to proteotoxic stress and eventually cell death. In addition, the endogenous overproduced glutathione (GSH) acts as a natural Cu chaperone in cells inhibiting cuproptosis by working as a thiol‐containing copper chelator.…”