They may vibrate, glow in the dark or taste like strawberry, but condoms have not seen a whole lot of innovation in their basic design in a long while: they’re still made of latex and lots of dudes still refuse to put one on. The Indian-origin Mahua Choudhury and her team of researchers at Texas A&M University might change that with a product that’s being dubbed ‘supercondom’ for its power to destroy the AIDS virus and feel better than anything you’d currently find at the chemist.
To solve the problem of the latex thingummies that are prone to tearing and, according to many men, reduce sensation in the area, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation gave out grants to the research teams with the best ideas — Choudhury’s team was one of them. The Foundation, which supports AIDS prevention programs in many countries including India, has reason to want more people to rubber up. Choudhury & Co has perfected a prototype made of hydro-gel, the substance used in disposable diapers and contact lenses. Coating the inside is a plant-based antioxidant that will stimulate nerve-endings and destroy the AIDS virus on contact, even targeting any that might get in if the condom breaks.
In an interview with the BBC, Choudhury says the product could be in the market in a year’s time.
