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Enhanced Gene Delivery and Expression using Intraosseous Injection of Chitosan Nanoparticles Encapsulated Adenine Base Editor Plasmids
Published on: May 16, 2025
Chitosan for gene delivery and orthopedic tissue engineering applications
Rosanne Raftery1, Fergal J O'Brien, Sally-Ann Cryan
1Tissue Engineering Research Group, Department of Anatomy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 17, 2013
Summary
Chitosan shows promise as a natural, non-viral gene delivery vector for orthopedic tissue engineering. Its biocompatible properties and ability to enhance bone repair make it a valuable tool for therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Gene Therapy
- Orthopedic Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Gene therapy offers therapeutic potential, particularly in orthopedic tissue engineering for bone repair via controlled protein release.
- Viral and synthetic non-viral gene delivery methods have drawbacks.
- Chitosan, a natural polymer, is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic, with amine groups enabling gene delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review chitosan's use as a gene delivery vector.
- To emphasize chitosan's application in orthopedic tissue engineering.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on chitosan as a gene delivery vector.
- Analysis of chitosan's properties relevant to gene delivery and orthopedic applications.
- Discussion of chitosan's potential in various forms like nanoparticles and scaffolds.
Main Results:
- Chitosan's cationic nature facilitates non-viral gene delivery and transfection of various cell types (e.g., HEK293, HeLa).
- Chitosan exhibits properties beneficial for tissue engineering, including biodegradability, biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and interaction with proteoglycans.
- Chitosan enhances mineral deposition in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during osteogenic differentiation in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan is a promising candidate for non-viral gene delivery in orthopedic tissue engineering due to its favorable characteristics.
- Its versatility in scaffold fabrication and ability to promote osteogenic differentiation further support its application in bone repair strategies.
