Preeclampsia, which is characterized by new onset hypertension during pregnancy, affects up to 8% of all pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality. Currently, adequate treatments for preeclampsia do not exist. The underlying physiological trigger for the development of preeclampsia is believed to be abnormal placental development, which results in reduced blood perfusion and placental ischemia. To address this underlying placental ischemia, we are developing methods to deliver therapeutics to the placenta. We have investigated the ability of perfluorocarbon nanodroplets to deliver oxygen to the placenta. These nanodroplets have a lipid outer shell incorporating indocyanine green, which acts as a photothermal trigger for oxygen release when exposed to laser light. Additionally, the nanodroplets act as both photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging contrast agents. The nanodroplets were labeled with folic acid to enhance placental accumulation. The results show that the nanodroplets, used to treat a rat model of preeclampsia, led to an increase in placental oxygenation, as detected using spectral photoacoustic imaging. These results indicate that triggered, non-invasive delivery of therapeutics is a feasible strategy to improve treatments for preeclampsia. Ongoing work is continuing to investigate the spatial and temporal properties of the nanodroplet drug delivery.

Imaging the laser-triggered release of therapies from nanodroplets for the treatment of preeclampsia

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.