In vivo transfection study of chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles as a new non viral vector for gene delivery to the lung.

Gene therapy targeted at the respiratory epithelium holds therapeutic potential for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. We recently reported that Chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles are good candidates for targeted gene delivery to fibronectin molecules (FAP-B receptors) of lung epithelial cell membrane. In this study Chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles were nebulized to mice using air jet nebulizer. The effect of nebulization on size, zeta potential and DNA binding ability of nanoparticles were studied. The level of gene expression in the mice lungs was evaluated. Nebulization did not affect the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles. Aerosol delivery of Chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles resulted in 16-fold increase of gene expression in the mice lungs compared with Chitosan-DNA nanoparticles. This study suggested that Chitosan-FAP-B nanoparticle can be a promising carrier for targeted gene delivery to the lung.