Galactosylated Chitosan/Carbonate Apatite Nanohybridization for Cell Specificity and High Transfection Efficiency as a DNA Carrier

The strategies developed for gene delivery are generally classified into two categories of viral and non-viral vectors. The limitation of viral vectors, which have problems including toxicity, immunogenicity and inflammatory response has led to the development of a novel, synthetic vectors based on non-viral vectors. Chitosan, one of non-viral vectors, has been a good candidate in gene delivery field. Moreover, galactosylated chitosan (GC) had the specific recognition of hepatocytes by galactose in the GC. Also, carbonate apatite increased the rate of DNA endocytosis and the efficiency of gene transfer. We describe here a new concept for improving cell specificity and transfection efficiency by hybridization of carbonate apatite (CAp) with GC. The complex formation was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The complex optimized through controlling calcium ion and charge ratio was evaluated on the cell specificity and transfection efficiency.