Formulation and Evaluation of Vaginal Washing Strips to Control Vaginal Microbiota

This study develops a novel vaginal cleansing strip formulation to manage vaginal infections by modulating the vaginal microbiota. Using a 3² factorial design, created an optimized formulation that combines lemongrass and tea tree oil in a 2:1 ratio with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC E5) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 400). The optimized strip demonstrated rapid disintegration (3 min), high tensile strength (316.5 g/cm2), and durable hardness (833 g), indicating ease of application and efficient handling. An in vivo study in a rat model of vaginal candidiasis showed that the strip significantly reduced the fungal load due to the synergistic effect of essential oils, demonstrating superiority over fluconazole suspension. This study suggests that these vaginal washing strips offer a practical, stable solution for rapid symptom relief and microbiota restoration in vaginal infections, presenting an innovative alternative to conventional treatments.