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bioRxiv · 10.1101/730648

Endosomal explosion induced by hypertonicity enhances chitosan transfection

Wang, S.·Jin, S.·Li, G.·Sun, R.·Shu, Q.·Wu, S.
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Abstract

Transferring DNA into cells to regulate cell function is a novel research field in recent decades. Chitosan is a gene vector with the properties of low-cost and safe, but high efficient delivery has remained challenging. We developed a strategy termed EEIH for endosomal explosion induced by hypertonicity, in which short-time exposure to hypertonic solutions triggers endosomes destabilization like explosions. EEIH can force chitosan/DNA polyplexes to break through the endosomal barriers to approach the nucleus, which results in boosting the transfection efficiency of chitosan in several cell lines. We demonstrate that EEIH is a significant and practical strategy in chitosan transfection system without sophisticated modification of chitosan.

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Wang, S., Jin, S., Li, G., Sun, R., Shu, Q., Wu, S.. 2019-08-09. Endosomal explosion induced by hypertonicity enhances chitosan transfection. https://doi.org/10.1101/730648

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