Receptor-mediated gene delivery using chitosan derivatives in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

The development of an efficient targeted gene delivery system into cells is an important strategy for the advancement of gene therapy. The targeted gene delivery system is especially important in non-viral gene transfer which shows the relative low transfection efficiency. And it also opens the possibility of selective delivery of therapeutic plasmids to specific tissues. Chitosan has been investigated as a non-viral vector because it has several advantages such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity with high cationic potential. However, low specificity and low transfection efficiency of chitosan need to be overcome prior to clinical trial. In this review, we focused on the specific ligand modification of chitosan for enhancement of cell specificity and transfection efficiency via receptor-mediated endocytosis in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.