Gold particles have been used as a carrier for transdermal gene delivery, which may cause adverse side effects when accumulated. In this study, biodegradable nanoparticles, composed of chitosan (CS) and poly-gamma-glutamic acid (gamma-PGA), were prepared by an ionic-gelation method for transdermal DNA delivery (CS/gamma-PGA/DNA) using a low-pressure gene gun. The conventional CS/DNA without the incorporation of gamma-PGA was used as a control. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to examine the internal structures of test nanoparticles, while identification of their constituents was conducted by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The CS/gamma-PGA/DNA were spherical in shape with a relatively homogeneous size distribution. In contrast, CS/DNA had a heterogeneous size distribution with a donut, rod or pretzel shape. Both test nanoparticles were able to effectively retain the encapsulated DNA and protect it from nuclease degradation. As compared with CS/DNA, CS/gamma-PGA/DNA improved their penetration depth into the mouse skin and enhanced gene expression. These observations may be attributed to the fact that CS/gamma-PGA/DNA were more compact in their internal structures and had a greater density than their CS/DNA counterparts, thus having a larger momentum to penetrate into the skin barrier. The results revealed that CS/gamma-PGA/DNA may substitute gold particles as a DNA carrier for transdermal gene delivery.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
8
11%
Engineering
7
10%
Medicine and Dentistry
5
7%
Other
12
16%
Unknown
14
19%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 6. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 19 April 2016.
All research outputs
#6,780,480
of 31,591,940 outputs
Outputs from Biomaterials
#3,497
of 12,615 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#21,782
of 111,673 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Biomaterials
#27
of 77 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 31,591,940 research outputs across all sources so far. This one has received more attention than most of these and is in the 74th percentile.
So far Altmetric has tracked 12,615 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 7.4. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 55% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 111,673 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 69% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 77 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 35th percentile – i.e., 35% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
