Spray drying tenofovir loaded mucoadhesive and pH-sensitive microspheres intended for HIV prevention

► Tenofovir (anti-HIV microbicide) are loaded in pH-sensitive microspheres (MS) by spray drying. ► The MS release 91.7% of its payload in the presence of simulated human semen. ► The MS (1 mg/ml) are noncytotoxic to vaginal cells and Lactobacillus crispatus. ► No statistically significant level of inflammatory cytokines are released by MS. ► Moreover, the percent mucoadhesion of MS is 2-fold higher than that of 1% HEC gel.