Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for intracellular delivery. The compositions are polymer compositions in which the polymer serves as a carrier for therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. The polymer compositions are effective in targeted delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to a cell. The polymer compositions include a targeting moiety that includes carbohydrate groups that effectively target specific cell surface receptors. The polymer compositions also include an agent binding moiety that effectively associates the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to be delivered to the cell.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the disclosure provides a delivery formulation including a chitosan in which the primary amines are partially modified with 4-imidazole acetic acid monohydrochloride and a therapeutic or imaging material. According to another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for delivering a material to an epithelial or mucosal tissue comprising increasing the permeability of an epithelial or mucosal tissue by applying to said tissue a delivery formulation including a chitosan in which the primary amines are partially modified with 4-imidazole acetic acid monochlorohydride and a therapeutic or imaging material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions for enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents. Drug delivery vehicle compositions may include a modified polysaccharide (e.g. chitosan) having at least one secondary amine or at least one tertiary amine and a therapeutic agent such as a therapeutic nucleic acid and/or a therapeutic anionic agent. Various additional modifications of a modified polysaccharide of the disclosure are also described. Exemplary therapeutic agents may include but are not limited to nucleic acids, polynucleotides, siRNA and/or pDNA. Compositions of the disclosure may be formulated as nanoparticles and may provide one or more advantages including efficient transfection, bio-delivery, availability, buffering ability, serum stability. Methods for synthesizing the drug delivery compositions are also set forth. The disclosure also provides methods for delivering/administering therapeutic agents using the drug delivery compositions of the disclosure to a patient in need thereof.