壳聚糖作为基因输送载体的最新研究进展

Recent advances in the sdudies on chitosan as gone carriers

基因治疗是一种非常有前景的医学治疗技术，然而目前尚不能广泛地应用于临床，安全高效的基因输送载体的缺乏是其临床推广应用的主要限制因素之一。壳聚糖作为一种天然存在的阳离子多聚物，具有较好的生物相容性和生物降解性，可以与DNA通过快速混合形成纳米颗粒，从而具有作为基因输送载体的重大潜力。就壳聚糖作为基因输送载体的最新研究进展进行系统综述，重点讨论纳米粒子进入体内后需要跨越的各个生物屏障以及如何克服这些生物屏障。

Gene therapy is a very potential technique for the treatment of many diseases. The main drawback to its application in clinic is the lack of an appropriate gene delivery vector in terms of safety and efficiency. Chitosan, a deacelytated form of chitin which is an naturally occurring polysaccharide, is able to form nano-scale complex with DNA. Because of its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, chitosan is regarded as one of the potential candidates as gene carrier. This article is going to give a review on the recent advances in the study on chitosan as gene carrier with focus on how the gene nano-complex could overcome the biological barriers in vivo.