Preparation and characterization of chitosan‐coated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles as a promising non‐viral vector for gene delivery

Abstract

AbstractChitosan‐coated hydroxyapatite (CS‐HAp) nanoparticles have been prepared successfully by a modified dropping method. Variations of the final solution pH values, concentration of CS, and CS/HAp volume ratio were examined for their effects on particle size, intensity of surface charge, and tendency of particle formation. The smallest nanoparticles carry a positive charge with 40–50 nm in width and 60–70 nm can be obtained when the CS/HAp ratio is 1 by controlling the final solution pH value at 6.5. The ability of nanoparticles to complex DNA, toxicity of nanoparticles, and the effect of CS‐HAp nanoparticle on transferring DNA were also investigated. Transgene expression in HeLa and NIH3T3 cell on the nanoparticles were significant after 2 days. Agarose gel electrophoresis indicated a probable multiple interaction between DNA and CS‐HAp while the interaction between DNA appears to be only ionic interaction. No toxic effect on the cells was seen with CS‐HAp. Lipofectin, however, was observed to engender marked cytotoxicity. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011