Preparation of inorganic/organic polymer hybrid microcapsules with high encapsulation efficiency by an electrospray technique

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2014 Aug 13;6(15):11973-9. doi: 10.1021/am503030c. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Abstract

Microcapsules composed of calcium phosphate and chitosan were prepared in a single step by electrospraying. An aqueous solution containing calcium chloride and chitosan was electrosprayed into a phosphate solution to form a calcium phosphate shell on the sprayed droplets. The resulting microcapsules were 350 μm in average diameter. Investigation using fluorescently labeled chitosan and XRD measurements revealed that the shells of the microcapsules were composed of calcium phosphate (mainly hydroxyapatite) and chitosan. Instead of chitosan, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and polyethylene glycol were also available for microcapsule production by electrospraying. Variations in the electrospraying conditions resulted in a variety of microcapsule shapes. Various types of substrates were successfully encapsulated in microcapsules with a high encapsulation efficiency (more than 80%). Finally, we succeeded in the encapsulation of living yeast cells in microcapsules, and observed their growth within these microcapsules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium Chloride / chemistry
  • Calcium Phosphates / chemistry
  • Chitosan / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry / methods*
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microspheres*
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Phosphates / chemistry
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Powders / chemistry
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
  • Water / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Calcium Phosphates
  • Electrolytes
  • Inorganic Chemicals
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Phosphates
  • Polymers
  • Powders
  • Water
  • Chitosan
  • calcium phosphate
  • Calcium Chloride