Mitigating a widespread burden: Chitosan hydrogels and derivatives as an ecologically responsible delivery approach for vulvovaginal candidiasis

An abundance of factors such as a high recurrence rate, antibiotic resistance, and the advent of persistent strains contribute to the continual threat that vulvovaginal candidiasis poses to women's health. There are a multitude of delivery methods and their commercially available formulations for the treatment of this disease. However, in view of the anatomy and physiology of the vagina, it is challenging to increase therapeutic efficacy when employing traditional formulations designed for vaginal medication administration since the production and renewal of vaginal fluids contribute to the constant depletion of the dosage form. Due to their appealing qualities, such as extending the residence period of the medication at the delivery site and allowing for precise control over drug release rates, hydrogels have been extensively used to enable direct drug administration into the vaginal mucosa for local treatment. In this regard, chitosan is a well-researched polymer that has gained particular attention. Chitosan hydrogels, apart from their appreciable mucoadhesive property and antimicrobial activity, offer an umpteen range of characteristics, making them an exemplary component for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Their various derivatives are now being researched for applications in treatment; however, there lie challenges in scalability and commercial usage of such formulations for a wide population group.