Gene delivery with chitosan

Abstract

Chitosan is a biocompatible compound and its complex with gene is stable against DNase. The efficiency of gene delivery with chitosan is determined by degree of deacetylation (DDA), molecular weight, and N/P ratio (the ratio of number of nitrogen in chitosan against that of phosphate in gene).
By decreasing the molecular weight of chitosan, the gene-binding ability decreases; however, aqueous solubility increases. The increase in DDA enhances the gene-binding ability of chitosan. However, too high binding ability results in decreased release of gene and gene expression in a cell. Recently many derivatives of chitosan have been reported to improve aqueous solubility or to deliver gene to a specific organ.