Exploiting the placenta for nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery during pregnancy.

Exploiting the placenta for nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery during pregnancy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2020 Sep 18;: Authors: Figueroa-Espada CG, Mitchell MJ, Riley RS Abstract A major challenge to treating diseases during pregnancy is that small molecule therapeutics are transported through the placenta, and incur toxicities to the developing fetus. The placenta is solely responsible for providing nutrients, removing waste, and protecting the fetus from toxic substances in maternal circulation. Thus, the placenta acts as a biological barrier between the mother and fetus that can be exploited for drug delivery. Nanoparticle technologies provide the opportunity for safe drug delivery during pregnancy by controlling how therapeutics interact with the placenta. In this Review, we present nanoparticle drug delivery technologies specifically designed to exploit the placenta as a biological barrier to treat maternal, placental, or fetal diseases exclusively, while minimizing off-target toxicities. Further, we discuss opportunities and challenges for implementing drug delivery technologies during pregnancy. PMID: 32956719 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Adv Drug Deliv Rev Source Type: research