A New Generation Nanotherapeutic: pHEMA-Chitosan Nanocomposites in siRNA Delivery

Background: Despite great hopes for small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based gene therapies, restrictions, including the presence of nucleases, reticuloendothelial system and undesired electrostatic interactions between nucleic acids and the cell membrane, limit the success of these approaches. In the last few decades, non-viral nucleic acid delivery vectors in nanosize with high biocompatibility, low toxicity and proton sponge effect have emerged as magic bullets to overcome these drawbacks.