GFP expression in Human uterine fibroblasts after transfection with nanoparticles containing (A) CMV-GFP, (B) PLAC1-GFP or (C) CyP19a-923-GFP. HEK293 cells transfected with (D) CMV-GFP, (E) PLAC1-GFP or (F) CyP19a-923-GFP demonstrated low but visible transgene expression under the CMV promoter but no GFP expression with the trophoblast-specific promoters. GFP expression in HPMVECs cells after transfection with nanoparticles containing (G) CMV-GFP, (H) PLAC1-GFP or (I) CyP19a-923-GFP. Representative images seen on 4 different passages for each cell type.

<p>Cell nuclei are stained with Dapi (blue).</p

Offspring birthweights at delivery were the same in Sham-operated, Internal control and UABL + PLAC1-HuIGF-1 nanoparticle treated group, however the Uterine Artery Branch Ligation, and Cyp19a-HuIGF-1 nanoparticle treated groups had significantly lower birthweights.

<p>N>6 dams per group, ANOVA<0.001, post-hoc Tukeys *<0.05, **<0.01.</p

Oligonucleotide primers for RTqPCR.

<p>Oligonucleotide primers for RTqPCR.</p

(A) The HPMA-DMAEMA copolymer used for DNA delivery in both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies. (B) Maps of the CMV-eGFP and Trophoblast-specific plasmids.

<p>(A) The HPMA-DMAEMA copolymer used for DNA delivery in both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies. (B) Maps of the CMV-eGFP and Trophoblast-specific plasmids.</p

Representative images of (A) GFP expression following transfection of BeWo with plasmid alone or (B) CMV-eGFP nanoparticles demonstrate greater transgene expression following complex formation than plasmid alone. (C) GFP expression in BeWo cells after transfection with nanoparticles containing PLAC1-GFP or (D) CyP19a-923-GFP for 4 days, resulted in comparable transgene expression to the global CMV promoter, similar results were seen on 4 different passages. Cell nuclei are stained with Dapi (blue). Proliferation levels (E) and apoptosis levels (F) in BeWo cells were not changed when cells were incubated with nanocomplexes for 48 hours compared to BeWo cells incubated with eGFP plasmid alone for the same time period, mean +/- SEM, n>4 passages per treatment.

<p>Representative images of (A) GFP expression following transfection of BeWo with plasmid alone or (B) CMV-eGFP nanoparticles demonstrate greater transgene expression following complex formation than plasmid alone. (C) GFP expression in BeWo cells after transfection with nanoparticles containing PLAC1-GFP or (D) CyP19a-923-GFP for 4 days, resulted in comparable transgene expression to the global CMV promoter, similar results were seen on 4 different passages. Cell nuclei are stained with Dapi (blue). Proliferation levels (E) and apoptosis levels (F) in BeWo cells were not changed when cells were incubated with nanocomplexes for 48 hours compared to BeWo cells incubated with eGFP plasmid alone for the same time period, mean +/- SEM, n>4 passages per treatment.</p

Placental morphology in the Labyrinthine (L) zone in (A) Sham, (B) UABL,(C) NP-PLAC1-hIGF-1treated groups is similar whereas differences in morphology can be seen in the NP-Cyp19a-hIGF-1 (D) treated group. (Magnification 40X). (E) The ratio of placental Junctional zone (Jz) area to Labyrinthine zone (Lz) area demonstrates significant expansion of the junctional zone in placentas treated with NP-Cyp19a-hIGF-1.

<p>Placental morphology in the Labyrinthine (L) zone in (A) Sham, (B) UABL,(C) NP-PLAC1-hIGF-1treated groups is similar whereas differences in morphology can be seen in the NP-Cyp19a-hIGF-1 (D) treated group. (Magnification 40X). (E) The ratio of placental Junctional zone (Jz) area to Labyrinthine zone (Lz) area demonstrates significant expansion of the junctional zone in placentas treated with NP-Cyp19a-hIGF-1.</p