Russian Scientists Unveil Dissolvable Antibacterial IUD for Endometritis

Scientists at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of MISIS (Russia's National University of Science and Technology) have unveiled a prototype bioresorbable intrauterine system loaded with an antibacterial drug for treating endometritis, an inflammatory condition of the uterine lining. The device is made from a biocompatible material that gradually dissolves in the body, with a specialized coating that provides local, sustained release of the antibacterial agent.

Endometritis is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system and can lead to serious complications, including infertility. Treatment typically requires prolonged antibiotic therapy, but systemic administration does not always maintain effective drug concentrations at the site of inflammation, and existing intrauterine devices are generally not designed for local antibacterial delivery and must be removed after use.

The MISIS device is based on polylactide, a biocompatible material that naturally degrades in the body over time, and is manufactured using 3D printing before being coated with layers of an antibacterial formulation containing metronidazole, an antibiotic effective against the anaerobic bacteria that commonly cause endometritis. The design allows the drug to be released gradually and act locally at the site of inflammation.

"The coil can be inserted into the uterine cavity in a compact form and, under the influence of body temperature, will spontaneously regain its original shape," said Sofia Oliyar, a co-author of the study and a student at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of MISIS. "Laboratory tests also confirmed the biological safety of the developed samples — the material showed no toxic effect on cells."