Impact of particle size and surface modification on gold nanoparticle penetration into human placental microtissues.
AIM
Nanoparticle-based drug carriers hold great promise for the development of targeted therapies in pregnancy with reduced off-target effects. Here, we performed a mechanistic in vitro study on placental localization and penetration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in dependence of particle size and surface modification.


MATERIALS & METHODS
AuNP uptake and penetration in human placental coculture microtissues was assessed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Higher uptake and deeper penetration was observed for smaller (3-4 nm) or sodium carboxylate-modified AuNPs than for larger (13-14 nm) or PEGylate AuNPs, which barely passed the trophoblast barrier layer.


CONCLUSION
It is possible to steer placental uptake and penetration of AuNPs by tailoring their properties, which is a prerequisite for the development of targeted therapies in pregnancy.
['Muoth|Carina|C|', 'Großgarten|Mandy|M|', 'Karst|Uwe|U|', 'Ruiz|Jaime|J|', 'Astruc|Didier|D|', 'Moya|Sergio|S|', 'Diener|Liliane|L|', 'Grieder|Kathrin|K|', 'Wichser|Adrian|A|', 'Jochum|Wolfram|W|', 'Wick|Peter|P|', 'Buerki-Thurnherr|Tina|T|']
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D018920:Coculture Techniques D004337:Drug Carriers D005260:Female D006046:Gold D006801:Humans D053768:Metal Nanoparticles D010316:Particle Size D010920:Placenta D011247:Pregnancy D013499:Surface Properties D014327:Trophoblasts
gold nanoparticles uptake and penetration placental coculture microtissues