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Deepak V, El-Balawi L, Harris LK. Placental Drug Delivery to Treat Pre-Eclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2311165. [PMID: 38745536 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR) continue to cause unacceptably high levels of morbidity and mortality, despite significant pharmaceutical and technological advances in other disease areas. The recent pandemic has also impacted obstetric care, as COVID-19 infection increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. This review explores the reasons why it lacks effective drug treatments for the placental dysfunction that underlies many common obstetric conditions and describes how nanomedicines and targeted drug delivery approaches may provide the solution to the current drug drought. The ever-increasing range of biocompatible nanoparticle formulations available is now making it possible to selectively deliver drugs to uterine and placental tissues and dramatically limit fetal drug transfer. Formulations that are refractory to placental uptake offer the possibility of retaining drugs within the maternal circulation, allowing pregnant individuals to take medicines previously considered too harmful to the developing baby. Liposomes, ionizable lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and adenoviral vectors have all been used to create efficacious drug delivery systems for use in pregnancy, although each approach offers distinct advantages and limitations. It is imperative that recent advances continue to be built upon and that there is an overdue investment of intellectual and financial capital in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkataraman Deepak
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Lujain El-Balawi
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lynda K Harris
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
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Loser V, Baumgartner T, Legardeur H, Panchaud A, Théaudin M. Patisiran exposure in early pregnancy: a case report. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2024; 17:17562864241239755. [PMID: 38532802 PMCID: PMC10964446 DOI: 10.1177/17562864241239755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe here the first case of exposure to patisiran treatment, a small interfering RNA molecule, during early pregnancy of a 36-year-old woman with symptomatic hereditary transthyretin-related amyloidosis. There were no major complications during pregnancy and delivery, except for a postpartum hemorrhage due to uterine atony. Vitamin A levels had to be closely monitored during pregnancy, and vitamin A substitution adapted accordingly. There was no sign of minor or major congenital abnormalities of the baby. One month after delivery, the patient showed slight clinical and electrophysiological signs of neuropathy progression due to patisiran treatment withdrawal. Patisiran infusions were resumed 3 months after delivery. Due to the unknown teratogenic potential of patisiran, the risk of neuropathy worsening associated with withholding treatment must of course be weighed against a potential teratogenic risk of treatment during pregnancy. Vitamin A levels need to be closely assessed, and substitution must be adapted accordingly, to avoid embryofetal adverse outcome due to vitamin A deficiency or toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Loser
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 44, Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Baumgartner
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Legardeur
- Woman–Mother–Child Department, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alice Panchaud
- Service of Pharmacy, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marie Théaudin
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Zhao J, Zhang J, Xu Y, Dong J, Dong Q, Zhao G, Shi Y. Nanotechnological approaches for the treatment of placental dysfunction: recent trends and future perspectives. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2023; 18:1961-1978. [PMID: 37990993 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2023-0194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The transitory placenta develops during pregnancy and mediates the blood flow between the mother and the developing baby. Placental dysfunction, including but not limited to placenta accreta spectrum, fetal growth restriction, preeclampsia and gestational trophoblastic disease, arises from abnormal placental development and can result in significant adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a lack of treatment alternatives for these disorders. Nanocarriers offer versatility, including extended circulation, organ-specific targeting and intracellular transport, finely tuning therapeutic placental interactions. This thorough review explores nanotechnological strategies for addressing placental disorders, encompassing dysfunction insights, potential drug-delivery targets and recent strides in placenta-targeted nanoparticle (NP) therapies, instilling hope for effective placental malfunction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- Delivery Rooms, Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Jungang Zhang
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Medical Research Center, Zhoushan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhoushan, 316000, China
| | - Juan Dong
- Delivery Rooms, Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Qichao Dong
- Delivery Rooms, Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhao
- Delivery Rooms, Shaoxing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China
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Fein KC, Arral ML, Kim JS, Newby AN, Whitehead KA. Placental drug transport and fetal exposure during pregnancy is determined by drug molecular size, chemistry, and conformation. J Control Release 2023; 361:29-39. [PMID: 37473809 PMCID: PMC10624237 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant people are unable to take many prescription and over-the-counter medications because of suspected or known risk to the fetus. This undermedication contributes to the high maternal mortality rate in the United States and detracts from the quality of life of pregnant people. As such, there is an urgent need to develop safe pharmaceutical formulations for use during pregnancy. Most drugs are small molecules that easily cross the placenta, which is the biological barrier that separates the maternal and fetal bloodstreams. One potential approach to preventing fetal drug accumulation is to design drug compounds that are excluded by the placenta; however, there is little understanding of how macromolecular drug properties affect transplacental transport. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the transport behavior of fluorescently-labeled polymers with varying size, conformation, and chemistry. We compared these polymers to unconjugated fluorescein, a small molecule model drug that readily crosses biological barriers. We found that molecular size affected transplacental transport in an in vitro model, BeWo b30 monolayers, as well as in pregnant mice, with larger polymers having lower permeability. In addition to size, polymer chemistry altered behavior, with polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules permeating the placental barrier to a greater extent than dextrans of equivalent molecular weight. PEG molecules were also more readily taken up into placental cells in vivo. These findings will inform the future development of drug conjugates or other macromolecular medicines that can safely be used during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Fein
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Mariah L Arral
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Julie S Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Alexandra N Newby
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Kathryn A Whitehead
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
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Stapleton PA. The Application of Engineered Nanomaterials in Perinatal Therapeutics. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2303072. [PMID: 37438678 PMCID: PMC10784409 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a vulnerable life stage for the mother and developing fetus. Because of this dual concern, approved therapeutic options for pre-existing conditions or pregnancy-induced pathologies, placental deformities, or fetal concerns are extremely limited. These cases often leave patients and clinicians having to choose between maternal health and fetal development. Recent advancements in nanomedicine and nanotherapeutic devices have made the development of perinatal therapeutics an attractive objective. However, perinatal medicine requires a multifaceted approach given the interactions between maternal, placental, and fetal physiology. Maternal-fetal interactions are centralized to the placenta, a specialized transient barrier organ, to allow for nutrient and waste exchange. Perinatal nanotherapeutics must be designed for placental avoidance or uptake. In this review, pregnancy-related conditions, experimental models, and modes of drug delivery during pregnancy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe A Stapleton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, 170 Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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Geisler HC, Safford HC, Mitchell MJ. Rational Design of Nanomedicine for Placental Disorders: Birthing a New Era in Women's Reproductive Health. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2300852. [PMID: 37191231 PMCID: PMC10651803 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is a transient organ that forms during pregnancy and acts as a biological barrier, mediating exchange between maternal and fetal circulation. Placental disorders, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, placenta accreta spectrum, and gestational trophoblastic disease, originate in dysfunctional placental development during pregnancy and can lead to severe complications for both the mother and fetus. Unfortunately, treatment options for these disorders are severely lacking. Challenges in designing therapeutics for use during pregnancy involve selectively delivering payloads to the placenta while protecting the fetus from potential toxic side effects. Nanomedicine holds great promise in overcoming these barriers; the versatile and modular nature of nanocarriers, including prolonged circulation times, intracellular delivery, and organ-specific targeting, can control how therapeutics interact with the placenta. In this review, nanomedicine strategies are discussed to treat and diagnose placental disorders with an emphasis on understanding the unique pathophysiology behind each of these diseases. Finally, prior study of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying these placental disorders has revealed novel disease targets. These targets are highlighted here to motivate the rational design of precision nanocarriers to improve therapeutic options for placental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C. Geisler
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Hannah C. Safford
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Michael J. Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19014, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
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Javia A, Vanza J, Bardoliwala D, Ghosh S, Misra A, Patel M, Thakkar H. Polymer-drug conjugates: Design principles, emerging synthetic strategies and clinical overview. Int J Pharm 2022; 623:121863. [PMID: 35643347 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Adagen, an enzyme replacement treatment for adenosine deaminase deficiency, was the first protein-polymer conjugate to be approved in early 1990s. Post this regulatory approval, numerous polymeric drugs and polymeric nanoparticles have entered the market as advanced or next-generation polymer-based therapeutics, while many others have currently been tested clinically. The polymer conjugation to therapeutic moiety offers several advantages, like enhanced solubilization of drug, controlled release, reduced immunogenicity, and prolonged circulation. The present review intends to highlight considerations in the design of therapeutically effective polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs), including the choice of linker chemistry. The potential synthetic strategies to formulate PDCs have been discussed along with recent advancements in the different types of PDCs, i.e., polymer-small molecular weight drug conjugates, polymer-protein conjugates, and stimuli-responsive PDCs, which are under clinical/preclinical investigation. Current impediments and regulatory hurdles hindering the clinical translation of PDC into effective therapeutic regimens for the amelioration of disease conditions have been addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Javia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalabhavan Campus, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-390001, India
| | - Jigar Vanza
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Changa, Gujarat-388421, India
| | - Denish Bardoliwala
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalabhavan Campus, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-390001, India
| | - Saikat Ghosh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalabhavan Campus, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-390001, India
| | - Ambikanandan Misra
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalabhavan Campus, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-390001, India; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, Shirpur, Maharashtra-425405, Indi
| | - Mrunali Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Changa, Gujarat-388421, India
| | - Hetal Thakkar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kalabhavan Campus, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat-390001, India.
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