Inhibition of inositol-1-phosphate synthetase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by chitosan-antisense nanoparticles

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were combined with the biodegradable polymer chitosan to form chitosan-ODN nanoparticles by complex coacervation, in order to improve the stability and intracellular penetration. The diameter of the nanoparticles was light strength size and ranged between 60 and 219 nm with a mean value of 132 nm, while zeta potential was between +12 and +20 mV at pH 5.5. The chitosan-ODN nanoparticles could partially protect the encapsulated ODN from nuclease degradation. Moreover, chitosan-ODN nanoparticles were much more effective in inhibiting the proliferation of M.tuberculosis than free ODN.