New Vaginal Cream Using Silver Nanoparticles Might Prevent the Spread of HIV

New research is underway to test a new vaginal cream that has been developed using silver nanoparticles to block the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says has infected more than 1.1 million people in the United States.   Using the results of prior studies conducted by the University of Texas and the University of Monterrey in Mexico, which showed promising results indicating that silver nanoparticles may be the key to helping prevent the spread of HIV, researchers developed a new vaginal cream.   While further research is still being conducted to determine any possible contradictions and side effects, laboratory studies using human tissue samples from the cervical mucous membrane have shown very promising results where the silver nanoparticles have halted the spread of the virus by adhering to the GP120 protein (which the virus uses to bond with an individual's immune cells) blocking the protein from being able to enter an individuals immune cells and infect them.   Current research thus far indicates that this new cream could provide effective protection for both sexual partners, and may also be an effective defensive against the spread of other types of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), such as the human pappilloma virus (HPV). While more research is still being done, current studies have found that the cream is fast-acting, providing effective protection within less than 1 minute after being applied, and provides a somewhat extended time period of coverage that lasts for up to 72 hours.     Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271903.php