title: Chitosan microparticles containing plasmid DNA as potential oral gene delivery system.
abstract: The potential of chitosan as a polycationic gene carrier for oral administration has been explored since 1990s. Chitosan has been shown to effectively bind DNA in saline or acetic acid solution and protect DNA from nuclease degradation. In this study, pDNA (plasmid DNA) was encapsulated in chitosan microparticles. Chitosan-DNA microparticles were prepared using a complex coacervation process and stability of plasmid DNA was investigated in this complex. The chitosan-DNA microparticles could protect the encapsulated plasmid DNA from nuclease degradation. Release of pDNA from microparticles was studied in simulated gastric, simulated intestinal medium and acidic PBS (phosphate buffer saline) (pH 4.5) buffer at 37 degrees C, and released pDNA was assayed spectrophotometrically. In vitro release of pDNA from chitosan microparticles was dependent on pH, as the pH of the release medium increased release profile decreased. In in vivo-animal studies blue color was observed with X-gal (4-chloro-5-bromo-3-indolyl-beta-galactosidase) staining of histological stomach and small intestine sections after oral administration of pDNA-chitosan microparticles as an indicator of exogeneous gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. ulker_guliyeva@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ulker
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Guliyeva
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozsoy
authors.forename: Rifki
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haziroğlu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005697:Galactosides; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007211:Indoles; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008863:Microspheres; D010957:Plasmids; D013270:Stomach / Q000473:pathology; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside