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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Determination of the Transport Rate of Xenobiotics and Nanomaterials Across the Placenta using the ex vivo Human Placental Perfusion Model
Published on: June 18, 2013
Transplacental transfer of 2-naphthol in human placenta
Hisham Mirghani1, Nawal Osman1, Subramanian Dhanasekaran2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, P.O. Box 1766, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Objective:
To determine the transfer of 2-naphthol (2-NPH) in fullterm human placental tissues.
Methods:
Six placentas were studied. The ex-vivo dual closed-loop human placental cotyledon perfusion model was used. 2-NPH was added to the perfusate in the maternal compartment. Samples were obtained from the maternal and fetal up to 360 min measuring.
Results:
The mean fetal weight was 2880 ± 304.2 g. Mean perfused cotyledon weight was 26.3 (±5.5) g. All unperfused placental tissue samples contained NPH with a mean level of 7.98 (±1.73) μg\g compared to a mean of 15.58 (±4.53) μg\g after 360 min perfusion. A rapid drop in maternal 2-NPH concentration was observed; from 5.54 μg\g in the first 15 min and 13.8 μg\g in 360 min. The fetal side increased from 0.65 μg\g in the initial 15 min to 1.5 μg\g in 360 min. The transfer rate of NPH was much lower than that of antipyrine.
Conclusion:
2-NPH has the ability to rapidly across the placenta from the maternal to the fetal compartment within 15 min. The placenta seems to play a role in limiting the passage of 2-NPH in the fetal compartment.
