Poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate): An effective candidate topical antimicrobial for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases

Presently marketed vaginal barrier agents are cytotoxic and damage the vagi nal epithelium and natural vaginal flora with frequent use. Novel noncytoto xic agents are needed to protect women from sexually transmitted diseases. One candidate compound is a high-molecular-mass form of soluble poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (T-PSS), The antimicrobial activity of T-PSS was eval uated in primary culture systems and in a genital herpes murine model. Resu lts obtained indicate that T-PSS is highly effective against herpes simplex viruses, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro. A 5% T -PSS gel protected 15 of 16 mice from vaginal herpes, compared with 2 of 16 mice treated with a placebo gel. Moreover, T-PSS exhibited little or no cy totoxicity and has an excellent selectivity index. T-PSS is an excellent ca ndidate topical antimicrobial that blocks adherence of herpes simplex virus at low concentrations, inactivates virus at higher concentrations, and exh ibits a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.