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Updated: May 9, 2026
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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
Chitosans for delivery of nucleic acids
Michael D Buschmann1, Abderrazzak Merzouki, Marc Lavertu
1Dept. Chemical Engineering and Inst. Biomedical Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|July 23, 2013
Summary
Chitosan offers a safer, non-viral gene therapy vector alternative. Tailoring chitosan structure improves its transfection efficiency (TE) for better nucleotide delivery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Gene Therapy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Viral vectors in gene therapy have safety concerns.
- Chitosan is a biocompatible, biodegradable, non-viral vector with low immunogenicity.
- Current chitosan polyplex transfection efficiency (TE) is lower than viral vectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in chitosan-based non-viral gene delivery.
- To explore the structure-performance relationship of chitosan polyplexes.
- To identify strategies for overcoming limitations in chitosan-mediated transfection.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on chitosan preparation and characterization.
- Analysis of physicochemical properties of chitosan and its polyplexes.
- Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo transfection assessments.
Main Results:
- Tailoring chitosan structure through advanced preparation and characterization enhances TE.
- Understanding structure-property relationships enables rational design of chitosan polyplexes.
- Various strategies have been developed to improve chitosan's transfection capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan is a promising non-viral vector for gene therapy.
- Rational design based on structural understanding is key to improving chitosan polyplex performance.
- Further research can optimize chitosan for efficient and safe gene delivery.
