title: Chitosan conjugates for DNA delivery.
abstract: Graft copolymers of chitosan and maltodextrin were synthesized by reductive amination of a low molecular weight chitosan. The degree of substitution is 70% or above, as quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, at molar ratios of chitosan glucosamine units and maltodextrin of 1 : 1 and 1 : 5. The high substitution degree generates a water-soluble compound at pH 7.4 by reducing the amino groups of chitosan. In addition, the copolymer self-assembles into spherical nanoparticles with diameters of about 300 nm. The mass polymer/DNA ratios at the isoelectric point are within the range of 3-3.5 for chitosan-maltodextrin nanoparticles as determined by electrophoretic mobility measurements. These results confirm that DNA interacts efficiently with the copolymer nanoparticles indicating a potential application of the system for DNA delivery.
authors.affiliation: LEPAE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: Galya
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA; D048271:Chitosan