Nanotechnology-Driven Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia originates in placental dysfunction yet it is detected only after maternal hypertension and proteinuria or other organ damage emerge, by which point disease-modifying interventions are not available, and delivery of the baby and placenta remains the only cure. Nanotechnology offers a route to reduce this diagnostic-therapeutic latency. Nanostructured biosensors and liquid biopsy platforms detect placental proteins, cell-free RNA/DNA, and extracellular vesicles at femtomolar concentrations and in a multiplex manner, enabling earlier risk stratification when integrated with machine-learning models. In parallel, placenta-targeted lipid-, peptide-, polymeric-, dendrimeric-, and small extracellular vesicle-based nanocarriers deliver angiogenic mRNA, antiangiogenic siRNA, antioxidants, and immunomodulators selectively to the trophoblast cells while limiting fetal exposure. Placenta-on-a-chip platforms and ex vivo placental perfusion models provide human-relevant test beds for these systems. We critically appraise these advances, examine the safety-by-design, manufacturing bottlenecks, and regulatory constraints unique to obstetric nanomedicine, and outline the convergence of theranostics and digital health that could move preeclampsia care from reactive symptom management toward proactive, placenta-targeted monitoring and therapy.