title: Chitosan nanoparticles for oral drug and gene delivery.
abstract: Chitosan is a widely available, mucoadhesive polymer that is able to increase cellular permeability and improve the bioavailability of orally administered protein drugs. It can also be readily formed into nanoparticles able to entrap drugs or condense plasmid DNA. Studies on the formulation and oral delivery of such chitosan nanoparticles have demonstrated their efficacy in enhancing drug uptake and promoting gene expression. This review summarizes some of these findings and highlights the potential of chitosan as a component of oral delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Kam W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods*; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D048271:Chitosan