title: Transport of digoxin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles across BeWo cells, an in vitro model of human placental trophoblast.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fetal arrhythmias can lead to fetal congestive heart failure and hydrops fetalis. Digoxin (the first-line treatment) has low transplacental permeability and high risk of maternal side effects. Biodegradable digoxin-loaded PEGylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles may increase digoxin transport across BeWo b30 cell monolayers (an in vitro model of trophoblast in human placenta) by reducing the drug's interaction with P-gp. Results/methodology: The nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency and sustained release over 48 h. Transport studies revealed significantly increased permeability across BeWo cell layers of digoxin-loaded nanoparticles when compared with free digoxin. P-gp inhibition also increased the permeability of digoxin, but not digoxin-loaded nanoparticles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This represents a novel treatment strategy for fetal cardiovascular disease which may improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Norah A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Albekairi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Sanaalarab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Enazy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Shariq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.|Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rytting
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004077:Digoxin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014700:Verapamil / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D004077:Digoxin; D014700:Verapamil