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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Three-dimensional Rendering and Analysis of Immunolabeled, Clarified Human Placental Villous Vascular Networks
Published on: March 29, 2018
Liposomes as Gene Delivery Vectors for Human Placental Cells
Lucie Valero1,2,3,4,5, Khair Alhareth6,7,8,9, Jenifer Espinoza Romero10,11,12,13,14
1Chimie ParisTech, PSL Research University, University de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé (UTCBS), F-75005 Paris, France. lucie.valero@parisdescartes.fr.
Abstract:
Nanomedicine as a therapeutic approach for pregnancy-related diseases could offer improved treatments for the mother while avoiding side effects for the fetus. In this study, we evaluated the potential of liposomes as carriers for small interfering RNAs to placental cells. Three neutral formulations carrying rhodamine-labelled siRNAs were evaluated on an in vitro model, i.e., human primary villous cytotrophoblasts. siRNA internalization rate from lipoplexes were compared to the one in the presence of the lipofectamine reagent and assessed by confocal microscopy. Results showed cellular internalization of nucleic acid with all three formulations, based on two cationic lipids, either DMAPAP or CSL-3. Moreover, incubation with DMAPAP+AA provided a rate of labelled cells as high as with lipofectamine (53 ± 15% and 44 ± 12%, respectively) while being more biocompatible. The proportion of cells which internalized siRNA were similar when using DMAPAP/DDSTU (16 ± 5%) and CSL-3 (22 ± 5%). This work highlights that liposomes could be a promising approach for gene therapy dedicated to pregnant patients.
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