The Application of Chitosan and Its Derivatives as Nanosized Carriers for the Delivery of Chemical Drugs and Genes or Proteins.

The carrier technology provides an intelligent approach for drug delivery by entrapping the drug into a carrier, such as nanoparticles, microspheres, hydrogels, and so on, which can increase the bioavailability of drug, enhance targeting, reduce toxicity and side effects of drug. The polysaccharides, e.g., chitosan and its derivatives, as carriers for delivery of chemical drugs and genes or proteins were summed up herein.