Innovative Nanozymes Show Promise for Safe Treatment of Inflammation During Pregnancy.

Innovative Nanozymes Show Promise for Safe Treatment of Inflammation During Pregnancy:

Pregnancy complications often involve inflammation, posing challenges for treatment due to concerns about the safety of medications for both mother and child. An international research team, including scientists from Empa, ETH Zurich, the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen, and Zhejiang University, is developing nanozymes—tiny synthetic particles with enzyme-like properties—to safely address these inflammatory processes. This collaborative effort is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and aims to provide effective treatment options without compromising fetal development.

Addressing Inflammation in Pregnancy:

Conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and the risk of premature birth are often accompanied by inflammation. Traditional treatments may be ineffective or pose risks to the developing fetus. Nanozymes offer a potential solution by targeting inflammation at the placental level without harming maternal or fetal health.

Development of Nanozymes:

Nanozymes are engineered to mimic natural enzymes, allowing them to interact with specific biological targets. They consist of a nanostructured core, such as metal atoms or metal oxides, which determines their enzymatic activity, and surface modifications that enhance stability and specificity. These particles can remain inactive until activated by disease processes, enabling them to neutralize harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) or combat bacterial infections at the site of inflammation.

Empa researcher Nikolaos Tagaras explains, "In this way, we want to enable customized use for different areas of application." The development process includes comprehensive safety studies using laboratory models that replicate human placental conditions, ensuring that the nanozymes do not adversely affect maternal or fetal tissues.

Promising Safety Studies:

The research team employs established models using fully functional human placental tissues obtained after cesarean sections. These models provide meaningful insights into the transport and effects of nanozymes. Initial results indicate that the nanozymes do not impair the placental barrier and have shown no negative effects on the models studied.

Empa researcher Tina Bürki emphasizes, "The structure, metabolism, and interaction of maternal and fetal tissue are unique in humans. It is therefore necessary to investigate the effect of the nanozymes on laboratory models with human cells and tissues."

Advancements with the Placenta Chip:

A significant advancement in the research is the development of the "placenta chip," a polymer chip on which human cells grow to represent the placental barrier and the embryo under conditions that closely mimic reality. This innovation allows for the investigation of transport processes at the placenta and the direct and indirect effects of nanozymes on early embryonic development.

The initial findings are promising, with the nanozymes not impairing the placental barrier and showing no negative effects on the models studied. The next steps involve analyzing the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects of the nanozymes to further assess their potential as safe and effective treatments for pregnancy-related inflammation.

This research represents a significant step forward in developing safe therapies for treating inflammation during pregnancy, offering hope for improved maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-nanomedicines-safe-treatment-inflammation-pregnancy.html

This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.