Chitosan-DNA nanospheres

These complexes, known as chitosan/DNA nanosphere, differ from the traditional complexes due to their compact structure and displayed novel properties. The molecular weight and DD of chitosan is the crucial parameter that controls DNA compaction, the nuclease resistance of the complexes, and the dissociation of DNA from chitosan (Koping-Hoggard et al. 2001, Sato et al. 2001). It was reported that the zeta potential, cellular uptake, and cytotoxicity of DNA/chitosan were dependent on DD value of chitosan but independent of the molecular weight of chitosan (Huang et al. 2004). 

Kumar, M., Behera, A. K., Lockey, R. F. et al. 2002. Intranasal gene transfer by Chitosan-DNA nanospheres protects BALB/c mice against acute respiratory syncytial virus infection. Human Gene Therapy 13 1415-1425. 

Masotti, A., Bordi, R, Ortaggi, G., Marino, R, and Palocci, C. 2008. A novel method to obtain chitosan/DNA nanospheres and a study of their release properties. Nanotechnology 19 055302 (6pp). 

Figure 2.56 SEM images of chitosan/DNA nanospheres (HjO/EtOH) obtained using a cellulose acetate membrane (MWCO = 12kDa) at different magnification [414].

Zeng P, Xu Y, Zeng C, Ren H, Peng M. Chitosan-modified poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanospheres for plasmid DNA delivery and HBV gene-silencing. Int J Pharm. 2011 415(l-2) 259-66. 

Chitosan micro- and nanospheres fabrication and applications for drug and DNA delivery. Mini. Rev. Med. Chem., 9 (4), 463 469. 

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