Impact of particle size and surface modification on gold nanoparticle penetration into human placental microtissues. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muoth, Carina; Großgarten, Mandy; Karst, Uwe; Ruiz, Jaime; Astruc, Didier; Moya, Sergio; Diener, Liliane; Grieder, Kathrin; Wichser, Adrian; Jochum, Wolfram; Wick, Peter; Buerki-Thurnherr, Tina
• Is Part Of: Nanomedicine. Volume 12:Number 10(2017)
• Page Start: 1119
• Page End: 1133
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: gold nanoparticles -- placental coculture microtissues -- uptake and penetration; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0428
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5889

Abstract

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.