Targeted drug delivery for maternal and perinatal health: Challenges and opportunities
Anjali Sharmaa, Nirnath Sahb, Sujatha Kannana b c, Rangaramanujam M. Kannana c d e✉
- aCenter for Nanomedicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
- bDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- cHugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc., Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
- dDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA. Electronic address: krangar1@jhmi.edu
- eDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD, 21218, USA
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Pre-existing conditions at reproductive age, and complications arising during pregnancy can be detrimental to maternal and fetal health. Current therapies to combat obstetric disorders are limited due to the inherent complexity of pregnancy, and can have harmful effects on developing fetus. Emerging research shows intricate signaling between the cells from mother and fetus at maternal-fetal interface, providing unique opportunities for interventions specifically targeted to the mother, fetus, or placenta. Advancements in nanotechnology, stem-cell biology and gene therapy have resulted in target-specific treatments with promising results in pre-clinical maternal and fetal disorder models. Comprehensive understanding of the effect of physicochemical properties of delivery systems on their uptake, retention and accumulation across placenta will help in the better diagnosis and treatment of perinatal disorders. This review describes the factors leading to obstetric complications along with their effect on pregnancy outcomes, and discusses key targeted therapeutic strategies for addressing conditions related to maternal and fetal health.
TL;DRComprehensive understanding of the effect of physicochemical properties of delivery systems on their uptake, retention and accumulation across placenta will help in the better diagnosis and treatment of perinatal disorders. (Semantic Scholar)