The reproductive health of women is governed by an optimal balance in the host–microbiota interaction. Depletion of the beneficial vaginal microflora caused by depletion of Lactobacillus species and increased proliferation of pathogens results in gynaecological infections. Among women of reproductive age, vaginal infections are increasingly prevalent. Attaining therapeutic efficacy using conventional formulations remains a challenge as vaginal fluids quickly remove or dilute the therapeutic formulations. Hydrogels have been widely exploited for targeted delivery of therapeutics directly into the vaginal mucus. With a careful choice of polymers (natural, synthetic, or semisynthetic), hydrogels with specific properties, such as stimuli responsiveness, antimicrobial, and muco-adhesiveness, can be tailored for higher therapeutic efficacy. In this review, the advances in hydrogel strategies for the treatment of vaginal infections are presented with emphasis on the types and properties that play a significant role in vaginal drug delivery systems.

The reproductive health of women is governed by an optimal balance between the host-microbiota interaction. Depletion in the beneficial vaginal microflora caused by depletion of Lactobacillus species and increased proliferation of pathogens results in gynecological infections. Among women of reproductive age, vaginal infections are increasingly prevalent. Attaining therapeutic efficacy using conventional formulations remains a challenge as vaginal fluids quickly remove or dilute the therapeutic formulations. Hydrogels have been widely exploited for targeted delivery of therapeutics directly into the vaginal mucus. With careful choice of polymers (natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic) hydrogels with specific properties such as stimuli-responsiveness, antimicrobial, and muco-adhesiveness can be tailored for higher therapeutic efficacy. In this review, the advnances in hydrogel strategies for the treatment of vaginal infections is presented with emphasis on the types and properties that play a significant role in vaginal drug delivery systems.

“Ovarian cancer” is not a specific diagnosis; instead, it is a collective term for various cancer types that affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the peritoneum. Over 30 distinct forms of ovarian cancer are estimated to exist, with significant variations in occurrence and prognosis among the various types. Based on GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, the number of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer is projected to increase by more than 55% by 2050. The annual deaths due to ovarian cancer among women are expected to rise to 350,956, marking an increase of nearly 70% compared to 2022. The incidence of ovarian cancer has been increasing substantially among younger females, probably due to the increasing prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, estrogen exposure, and nulliparity. At present, the primary treatment options for ovarian cancer are based on three pillars: surgical debulking, chemotherapy, and maintenance therapy. However, the long-term survival rate remains low due to the late stages of the disease, with a high recurrence risk. Because treatment still relies heavily on cytotoxic chemotherapy, adverse effects and acquired drug resistance remain common. Therefore, there is a need for new therapeutics that optimize treatment options. In this review, an updated overview of current and future approaches to developing new therapeutics for ovarian cancer is presented.

Vaginal infections remain a prevalent global health concern among women, often resulting in symptoms such as pain, itchiness, and dysuria (1)