Nano-polyplex as a non-viral gene carrier for the expression of bone morphogenetic protein in osteoblastic cells

► We applied the nano-polyplexes based gene delivery using water-soluble chitosan and polyethyleneimine (PEI) for therapeutic gene delivery into the osteoblastic-like cell line, MG-63. ► The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity were investigated. ► Bone morphogenesis protein (BMP) gene delivery was performed. ► Comparing with commercial available system, lipofectamine, the expression of BMP were prolonged. ► This study proposes the non-viral vector as a promising approach for bone regeneration though gene therapy.