Acetal-Modified Dextran Microparticles with Controlled Degradation Kinetics and Surface Functionality for Gene Delivery in Phagocytic and Non-Phagocytic Cells

A microparticulate gene delivery system based on biodegradable and acid-sensitive acetal-modified dextran with unprecedented tunability of degradation rates and simplicity of surface functionalization is presented. When optimally formulated with small amounts of cationic polymers, these microparticles are capable of efficiently transfecting both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells with minimal toxicity.