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Multifunctional nanoparticles for real-time evaluation of toxicity during fetal development
Sean Sweeney1,2, Andrea Adamcakova-Dodd3,4, Peter S Thorne3,4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America.
Plos One
|February 9, 2018
Summary
Researchers developed multifunctional nanoparticles to track nanomaterial transport across the placenta in mice. Nanoparticles crossed the placenta early in gestation but were blocked later, showing the placenta’s protective barrier develops over time.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Growing industrial production of nanomaterials raises public health concerns, especially for pregnant women and fetuses.
- Limited data exists on placental transport of nanomaterials due to experimental challenges.
- Developing methods for in vivo imaging of placental transport is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and utilize a novel multifunctional nanoparticle for real-time in vivo imaging of placental transport.
- To investigate the placental barrier capacity for nanomaterials at different stages of gestation in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Created multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) for MRI, ultrasound, and fluorescent microscopy.
- Administered MSN intravenously to pregnant mice at early (day 9) and late (day 14) gestation.
- Tracked MSN distribution using MRI and ultrasound imaging.
Main Results:
- MSN were detected within embryos following early gestation injections, indicating placental transfer.
- MSN were excluded from embryos by the placenta in late gestation, demonstrating barrier function.
- Results suggest progressive development of the placental barrier in mice during gestation.
Conclusions:
- The developed MSN serve as effective tracking agents for studying placental transport.
- The placenta's barrier capacity increases significantly as gestation progresses in mice.
- MSN properties offer potential for targeted therapeutic interventions against embryonic exposure to toxic substances.
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