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Review
. 2017 Jul 1:116:63-72.
doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.002. Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Placental control of drug delivery

Sanaalarab Al-Enazy  1 , Shariq Ali  1 , Norah Albekairi  2 , Marwa El-Tawil  3 , Erik Rytting  4
Affiliations
Review

Placental control of drug delivery

Sanaalarab Al-Enazy et al. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. .

Abstract

The placenta serves as the interface between the maternal and fetal circulations and regulates the transfer of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products. When exogenous substances are present in the maternal bloodstream-whether from environmental contact, occupational exposure, medication, or drug abuse-the extent to which this exposure affects the fetus is determined by transport and biotransformation processes in the placental barrier. Advances in drug delivery strategies are expected to improve the treatment of maternal and fetal diseases encountered during pregnancy.

Keywords: Biotransformation; Placenta; Pregnancy; Transporters.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selected disorders that may require pharmacotherapy during pregnancy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Highlighted transport processes within the human placental barrier. It should be noted that this does not represent an exhaustive list of transporters present in the placental trophoblast or fetal capillary endothelium. Trophoblast cells represent the rate-limiting barrier separating maternal and fetal circulations within the placenta. MDR1, multidrug resistance protein 1 (P-glycoprotein); BCRP, breast cancer resistance protein; MRP2, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2; OATP4A1, organic anion transporting polypeptide 4A1; OCTN1, novel organic cation transporter 1; OCTN2, novel organic cation transporter 2; MATE1, multidrug and toxin extruding protein 1; MRP1, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1; OAT4, organic anion transporter 4; OATP2B1, organic anion transporting polypeptide 2B1; OCT1, organic cation transporter 1; OCT3, organic cation transporter 3. Question marks indicate transport processes requiring further characterization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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