Evaluation of placental transport of drug-loaded polymeric micelles

• Project/Area Number: 15K20130
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MIZUNO KAZUE 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 客員研究員 (80615972)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): CABRAL Horacio 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科, 准教授 (10533911)
• Research Collaborator: WAN Jingyu 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科, 大学院生
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
• Keywords: ドラッグデリバリーシステム / がん治療 / 胎盤 / 妊婦 / ドラッグデリバリー / 妊娠 / バイオテクノロジー / 癌 / 放射線

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the trans-placental transport of drug-loaded polymeric micelles as a possible carrier to deliver drugs selectively to the maternal body. The pregnant mice were injected with platinum-based anticancer drug encapsulated by polymeric micelles with different diameters, and the platinum distributions in the mouse placentae and fetuses were quantitatively measured. The platinum accumulations depended on the sizes of the micelles and were correlated to the low placental and fetal weights, number of births and body weights after the birth. Although the structures of the human and mouse placentae are different, these results suggest that polymeric micelles are potential drug carriers during pregnancy if their sizes and surface structures are optimized.