biostudies-literatureSajid ACommonwealth Scholarship Commission2115https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10180698biostudies-literatureUnknown15(9)Chitosan is extensively studied as a carrier for gene delivery and is an attractive non-viral gene vector owing to its polycationic, biodegradable, and biocompatible nature. Thus, it is essential to understand the chemistry of self-assembled chitosan-DNA complexation and their structural and functional properties, enabling the formation of an effective non-viral gene delivery system. In this study, two parent chitosans (samples NAS-032 and NAS-075; Mw range ~118-164 kDa) and their depolymerised derivatives (deploy nas-032 and deploy nas-075; Mw range 6-14 kDa) with degrees of acetylation 43.4 and 4.7%, respectively, were used to form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with DNA at varying [-NH₃⁺]/[-PO₄^-] (N/P) molar charge ratios. We investigated thPolymersOn the Fractionation and Physicochemical Characterisation of Self-Assembled Chitosan-DNA Polyelectrolyte Complexes.PMC10180698PKCS-2019-493Goycoolea FMSajid ACastronovo MfalseOn the Fractionation and Physicochemical Characterisation of Self-Assembled Chitosan-DNA Polyelectrolyte Complexes.Chitosan is extensively studied as a carrier for gene delivery and is an attractive non-viral gene vector owing to its polycationic, biodegradable, and biocompatible nature. Thus, it is essential to understand the chemistry of self-assembled chitosan-DNA complexation and their structural and functional properties, enabling the formation of an effective non-viral gene delivery system. In this study, two parent chitosans (samples NAS-032 and NAS-075; Mw range ~118-164 kDa) and their depolymerised derivatives (deploy nas-032 and deploy nas-075; Mw range 6-14 kDa) with degrees of acetylation 43.4 and 4.7%, respectively, were used to form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with DNA at varying [-NH₃⁺]/[-PO₄^-] (N/P) molar charge ratios. We investigated th2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Apr2025-04-05T10:54:34.461Z2025-04-05T10:54:34.461ZS-EPMC101806983717726010.3390/polym15092115