Study on a novel copper-containing composite for contraception☆
Received 21 November 2008; received in revised form 31 December 2008; accepted 4 January 2009. published online 02 March 2009.
Abstract
Background
The copper-containing intrauterine devices (Cu-IUDs) are being increasingly used worldwide as an effective contraception for family planning. To avoid abnormal bleeding, pain, partial and complete expulsion, which are associated with the burst release of cupric ions during the first few days, a novel cross-linked composite based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that contained cupric ions, but not metallic copper, was developed by our research team.
Study Design
As a logical extension of our previous work, the corrosion products and release behavior of this composite after immersing in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 1 year were studied by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS).
Results
No other new elements, such as P, Cl and Ca, appeared on the surface of the composite, and no Cu2O was formed after immersing in SBF for 1 year, indicating that the effectiveness of copper can be greatly improved. Furthermore, no significant change on time dependence was found for the release rates of cupric ions in the composite compared with that of metallic copper, suggesting the absent burst release of cupric ions in the composite.
Conclusion
The present in vitro long-term data suggest that this novel copper-containing composite has potential as a substitute for conventional materials used in the manufacture of IUDs.
aState Key Laboratory of Mould Technology, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, PR China
bFamily Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, PR China
☆ The authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Support Project (Grant No. 2006BA103B03) and Committee of Family Planning of Hubei Province.
ABSTRACT