Bidirectional Transfer Study of Polystyrene Nanoparticles across the Placental Barrier in an <i>ex Vivo</i> Human Placental Perfusion Model

Abstract

Our results indicate that the syncytiotrophoblast is the key player in regulating nanoparticle transport across the human placenta. The main mechanism underlying this translocation is not based on passive diffusion, but is likely to involve an active, energy-dependent transport pathway. These findings will be important for reproductive toxicology as well as for pharmaceutical engineering of new drug carriers.