Synthesis of amidic alginate derivatives and their application in microencapsulation of λ-cyhalothrin

1-Octyl amine was covalently coupled to sodium alginate(NaAlg) in an aqueous-phase reaction via acidamide functions using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC-HCl) as a coupling reagent to provide octyl-grafted amphiphilic alginate-amide derivative(OAAD) for subsequent use in λ-cyhalothrin (LCH) microcapsule application. The structure of OAAD was confirmed by FT-IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The new alginate-amide derivative was used for fabricating microcapsule that can effectively encapsulate LCH by emulsification-gelation technique. The microcapsules were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser particle size analysis. The encapsulation efficiency and drug release behavior of LCH from the microcapsules were investigated. Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form with diameter mostly in the range of 0.5-10 μm and possessed a structure with LCH as core and OAAD as shell. The encapsulation efficiency and the release performance of the microcapsules were influenced by DS of OAAD and amount of CaCl(2). The mechanism of LCH release was found to vary from anomalous to Fickian to quasi-Fickian transport with the DS of OAAD varied from 10.8 to 30.3 and the CaCl(2)/emulsion ratios varied from 0.09 to 0.03%.     

Incorporation of proteins into polyelectrolyte microcapsules by coprecipitation and adsorption

Microcapsules composed of synthetic (sodium polystyrene sulfonate and polyallylamine hydrochloride) and biodegradable polyelectrolytes (dextran sulfate and polyarginine hydrochloride) deposited on carbonate microparticles have been obtained. The ultrastructural organization of biodegradable microcapsules has been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The shell of biodegradable microcapsules is well formed even after the deposition of six polyelectrolyte layers and has an average thickness of 44 ± 3.0 nm; their inner polyelectrolyte matrix is less branched than that of synthetic microcapsules. By using spectroscopy, the efficiency of the encapsulation of FITC-labeled BSA by adsorption depending on the number of PE layers in the capsule has been estimated. It has been shown that the maximum amount of the protein is incorporated into capsules comprising six and seven polyelectrolyte layers (4 and 2 pg/capsule, respectively). It has been concluded that the adsorption of proteins into preformed polyelectrolyte capsules enables one to avoid protein losses that occur with the method in which biomineral cores obtained by coprecipitation are used for encapsulation.     

Design and Evaluation of the Release Characteristics of Caffeine-Loaded Microcapsules in a Medicated Chewing Gum Formulation

The aim of this study was to microencapsulate caffeine by the emulsion technique, trying to control its release from a medicated chewing gum. Three formulations were prepared using alginate, alginate-starch, and alginate-starch with chitosan coating as the wall materials. These microcapsules were characterized with regard to the morphology studied by using an optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size, and encapsulation efficiency. The microcapsules were then incorporated into the chewing gums. The chewing gums were characterized by thermal behavior (by differential scanning calorimetry [DSC]), texture profile analysis [TPA], and sensory evaluation. Furthermore, the release of caffeine from the chewing gum was studied in vitro using the masticatory simulator and in vivo by a chew-out study. The microcapsules revealed a spherical form and high encapsulation efficiency, representing the success of the technique. The outcomes indicated that it is possible to encapsulate caffeine with the techniques employed and the microcapsules prolonged the release of caffeine throughout mastication. The chewing gum containing alginate-starch with chitosan-coated microcapsules showed the great potential of the microcapsule in controlling the release of the caffeine from the chewing gum, thereby delaying its bitterness.     

Yeast Cell Microcapsules as a Novel Carrier for Cholecalciferol Encapsulation: Development,Characterization and Release Properties

In this study Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells was used as a novel vehicle for encapsulation of vitamin D₃. The effects of initial cholecalciferol concentration (100,000 and 500,000 IU/g yeast), yeast cell pretreatment (plasmolysis with NaCl) and drying method (spray or freeze drying) on microcapsules properties were investigated. It was found that the vitamin concentration and drying method had significant influence on encapsulation efficiency (EE) and size of yeast microcapsules. Furthermore, EE values were more increased by the plasmolysis treatment. The highest EE was obtained for plasmolysed and spray dried yeast cells prepared using initial cholecalciferol concentration of 2.5 mg per gram of yeast cells (76.10?±?6.92%). The values of mean particle size were 3.43–7.91 μm. The presence of cholecalciferol in yeast microcapsules was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) analyses. The in vitro cholecalciferol release from yeast microcapsules in phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) followed a controlled release manner consistent with a Fickian diffusion mechanism. In addition, the release studies in simulated gastrointestinal tract showed sustained release of cholecalciferol in the stomach condition and significant release in intestinal medium.     

Preparation and Characterization of Microcapsules Containing Squalene

Ethylcellulose microcapsules containing squalene were fabricated by a solvent evaporation method. The parameters of core/shell ratio, content of surfactant, encapsulation efficiency, and drug-loading rate of squalene were investigated; the Polysorbate-80 was used as surfactant in the external phase. The results showed that the optimal ethylcellulose microcapsules containing squalene were obtained with a surfactant concentration of 0.5 % and a core/shell ratio of 1:1. Under the optimal conditions, the entrapment efficiency and the drug-loading rate reached to 60.31?±?0.55 % and 32.76?±?0.30 %, respectively. The appearance and size of microcapsules were measured by scanning electron microscope and metallographic microscope. The microcapsules were spherical in shape and have a mean diameter of 103 μm.     

Progress technology in microencapsulation methods for cell therapy

Cell encapsulation in microcapsules allows the in situ delivery of secreted proteins to treat different pathological conditions. Spherical microcapsules offer optimal surface‐to‐volume ratio for protein and nutrient diffusion, and thus, cell viability. This technology permits cell survival along with protein secretion activity upon appropriate host stimuli without the deleterious effects of immunosuppressant drugs. Microcapsules can be classified in 3 categories: matrix‐core/shell microcapsules, liquid‐core/shell microcapsules, and cells‐core/shell microcapsules (or conformal coating). Many preparation techniques using natural or synthetic polymers as well as inorganic compounds have been reported. Matrix‐core/shell microcapsules in which cells are hydrogel‐embedded, exemplified by alginates capsule, is by far the most studied method. Numerous refinement of the technique have been proposed over the years such as better material characterization and purification, improvements in microbead generation methods, and new microbeads coating techniques. Other approaches, based on liquid‐core capsules showed improved protein production and increased cell survival. But aside those more traditional techniques, new techniques are emerging in response to shortcomings of existing methods. More recently, direct cell aggregate coating have been proposed to minimize membrane thickness and implants size. Microcapsule performances are largely dictated by the physicochemical properties of the materials and the preparation techniques employed. Despite numerous promising pre‐clinical results, at the present time each methods proposed need further improvements before reaching the clinical phase. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

膜材与制备过程对血红蛋白微胶囊粒径和包埋率的影响

以单甲氧基聚乙二醇聚乳酸共聚物（PELA）为膜材用复乳溶剂扩散法制备了包含牛血红蛋白（BHb）的微胶囊,微胶囊中BHb的P₅₀和Hill系数分别为3 466 Pa和2.4左右,接近于天然BHb的生物活性。研究发现膜材种类对BHb微胶囊包埋率和粒径的影响最大,使用MPEG2000为亲水性嵌段的PELA共聚物时,包埋率最高,达到90％以上,粒径为3～5 μm左右;随着膜材浓度的增大,微胶囊包埋率和粒径均增加;随着外水相NaCl浓度的增大,微胶囊包埋率升高、粒径减小;随着外水相稳定剂PVA浓度的增大,微胶囊粒径减小,包埋率先升高后降低,在较低浓度下（10 g/L、20 g/L）包埋率较高;初乳化搅拌速率的增大,有利于包埋率的提高,但对粒径影响不大;复乳化搅拌速率的影响较复杂,当复乳液体积较大时,复乳化搅拌速率对微胶囊制备的影响规律性不明显。当固定膜材和初乳化搅拌速率时,包埋率和粒径之间存在着类似抛物线的关系,包埋率随着粒径的减小而降低。     

Development,Optimization, and Anti-diabetic Activity of Gliclazide-Loaded Alginate–Methyl Cellulose Mucoadhesive Microcapsules

The purpose of this work was to develop and optimize gliclazide-loaded alginate–methyl cellulose mucoadhesive microcapsules by ionotropic gelation using central composite design. The effect of formulation parameters like polymer blend ratio and cross-linker (CaCl₂) concentration on properties of gliclazide-loaded alginate–methyl cellulose microcapsules like drug encapsulation efficiency and drug release were optimized. The optimized microcapsules were subjected to swelling, mucoadhesive, and in vivo studies. The observed responses coincided well with the predicted values from the optimization technique. The optimized microcapsules showed high drug encapsulation efficiency (83.57 ± 2.59% to 85.52 ± 3.07%) with low T _50% (time for 50% drug release, 5.68 ± 0.09 to 5.83 ± 0.11 h). The in vitro drug release pattern from optimized microcapsules was found to be controlled-release pattern (zero order) with case II transport release mechanism. Particle sizes of these optimized microcapsules were 0.767 ± 0.085 to 0.937 ± 0.086 mm. These microcapsules also exhibited good mucoadhesive properties. The in vivo studies on alloxan-induced diabetic rats indicated the significant hypoglycemic effect that was observed 12 h after oral administration of optimized mucoadhesive microcapsules. The developed and optimized alginate–methyl cellulose microcapsules are suitable for prolonged systemic absorption of gliclazide to maintain lower blood glucose level and improved patient compliance.     

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of polystyrene-coated diltiazem-resin complex by oil-in-water emulsion solvent evaporation method

The purpose of this study was to examine the suitability of polystyrene-coated (PS-coated) microcapsules of drug-resin complex for achieving prolonged release of diltiazem-HCl, a highly water-soluble drug, in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid. The drug was bound to Indion 254, a cation-exchange resin, and the resulting resinate was microencapsulated with PS using an oil-in-water emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The effect of various formulation parameters on the characteristics of the microcapsules was studied. Mean diameter and encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules rose with an increase in the concentration of emulsion stabilizer and the coat/core ratio, while the same characteristics tended to decrease with an increase in the volume of the organic disperse phase. The desorption of drug from the uncoated resinate was quite rapid and independent of the pH of the dissolution media. On the other hand, the drug release from the microcapsules was prolonged for different periods of time depending on the formulation parameters and was also found to be independent of the pH of the dissolution media. Both the encapsulation efficiency and the retardation of drug release were found to be dependent on the uniformity of coating, which in turn was influenced by the formulation parameters. Kinetic studies revealed that the desorption of drug from the resinate obeyed the typical particle diffusion process, whereas the drug release from the microencapsulated resinate followed the diffusion-controlled model in accordance with the Higuchi equation. PS appeared to be a suitable polymer to provide prolonged release of diltiazem independent of the pH of the dissolution media.     

Cellular Uptake and In Vitro Drug Release Studies on Paclitaxel-Loaded Poly(caprolactone)-Grafted Dextran Copolymeric Nanoparticles

Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers play a key role to provide a solution for sustained chemotherapy, when engineered to nanostructure. One such effort has been put forward to engineer self-assembled poly(caprolactone)-grafted dextran (PGD) core–shell micellar vehicle for anticancer drug (paclitaxel) and presented in this study. Paclitaxel-loaded PGD nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a modified oil/water emulsion method and characterized by laser light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and zeta potential measurements. The effects of the copolymeric compositions of PGD NPs on drug encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release, cellular uptake, and cell viability of NP formulation with paclitaxel were investigated. The drug encapsulation efficiency was determined spectrophotometrically, and in vitro drug release was estimated using dialysis bag. Human gastric cancer cell line (SNU-638) were used to image and measure the cellular uptake of fluorescent PGD NPs. Cancer cell viability of the drug-loaded PGD NPs was measured by crystal violet staining method. From the results obtained on various aspects, we inferred that the above formulated drug-loaded PGD NPs have significant drug encapsulation efficiency, cellular uptake, and the cancer cell mortality.     

Influence of DL-beta-hydroxybutyric acid on cell proliferation and calcium influx

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx), a member of the polyhydroxyalkanoate family of biopolyesters, has superior mechanical properties and biocompatibilities that enable it to meet diverse biomedical requirements. The main component of PHBHHx is DL-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (HB), a ketone body that is also produced in vivo. The effects of HB treatment on murine fibroblast L929 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and rabbit articular cartilages were investigated. HB (0.005-0.10 g/L) promoted cell proliferation for each cell line. Cell cycle analysis indicated that HB had a stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis. Flow cytometric analysis of L929 cells revealed changes in the [Ca2+]i for different stages of the cell cycle. In L929 cells, HB (0.02 g/L) stimulated a rapid increase in the concentration of cytosolic calcium that was blocked by verapamil and diltiazem, inhibitors of L-type Ca2+ channels. Finally, verapamil inhibited HB-induced L929 cell proliferation. Collectively, these results indicated that HB had a stimulatory effect on cell cycle progression that is mediated by a signaling pathway dependent upon increases in [Ca2+]i. This trophic effect may underlie the good biocompatibility observed for PHBHHx.     

A protein delivery system: biodegradable alginate-chitosan-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite microspheres

In the present study we developed alginate-chitosan-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite microspheres to elevate protein entrapment efficiency and decrease its burst release. Bovine serum albumin (BSA), which used as the model protein, was entrapped into the alginate microcapsules by a modified emulsification method in an isopropyl alcohol-washed way. The rapid drug releases were sustained by chitosan coating. To obtain the desired release properties, the alginate-chitosan microcapsules were further incorporated in the PLGA to form the composite microspheres. The average diameter of the composite microcapsules was 31+/-9microm and the encapsulation efficiency was 81-87%, while that of conventional PLGA microspheres was just 61-65%. Furthermore, the burst releases at 1h of BSA entrapped in composite microspheres which containing PLGA (50:50) and PLGA (70:30) decreased to 24% and 8% in PBS, and further decreased to 5% and 2% in saline. On the contrary, the burst releases of conventional PLGA microspheres were 48% and 52% in PBS, respectively. Moreover, the release profiles could be manipulated by regulating the ratios of poly(lactic acid) to poly(glycolic acid) in the composite microspheres.     

基于海藻酸钠羟基改性的MPEG原位共价修饰微胶囊及抗蛋白性能

目的:通过对海藻酸钠链段羟基位点改性制备甲氧基聚乙二醇(MPEG)原位共价修饰的海藻酸钠/壳聚糖(AC)微胶囊,在保证MPEG修饰微胶囊机械强度不受影响的基础上,有效提高表面MPEG修饰密度,实现兼具良好机械稳定性及抗蛋白性能的微胶囊制备方法。方法:利用溴化氰对海藻酸钠羟基进行活化并将末端氨基的点击化学linker(BAT)接枝在主链上进而制备MPEG原位共价修饰微囊A_(B(OH))CP_N,用球磨法表征微囊机械强度,用Ig G和Fgn为模型考察微囊表面抗蛋白吸附性能,以L929细胞在其二维模拟平板膜上的黏附情况作为衡量指标,考察MPEG修饰微胶囊表面细胞粘附情况,并最终通过体内移植考察MPEG修饰微囊的生物相容性。结果:基于海藻酸钠羟基位点的MPEG原位共价修饰微胶囊能够实现与常规条件制备的微胶囊接近的机械强度;同时与对照组相比Ig G吸附量降低87.4%,Fgn吸附量降低75.5%,实现了良好的抗蛋白吸附性能;二维模拟平板膜表面L929细胞粘附情况显著改善,细胞粘附数与对照组相比降低了76.9%;体内移植结果证明MPEG修饰微囊细胞粘附极少,微囊与纤维层分离明显。结论:基于海藻酸钠羟基位点的MPEG原位修饰能够实现兼具良好机械稳定性及抗蛋白吸附性能的微胶囊。     

Skin regeneration with fibroblast growth factor 2 released from heparin-conjugated fibrin

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) stimulates skin wound healing but does long-term delivery of FGF2 enhance skin regeneration compared to short-term delivery? Heparin-conjugated fibrin (HCF) was used as a vehicle for long-term delivery of FGF2. Fibrin, HCF, FGF2-loaded fibrin, and FGF2-loaded HCF were implanted into full-thickness skin defects of mice. The neoepidermis thickness was significantly larger in the FGF2-loaded HCF group than in the other groups, except for the FGF2-loaded fibrin group. Suprabasal cytokeratin differentiation in squamous neoepithelium was greatest in the FGF2-loaded HCF group. The enhanced skin regeneration accompanying the long-term delivery of FGF2 could be mediated, at least partially, by enhanced neovascularization and cell proliferation in the neodermis.     

Permeability of alginate microcapsules to secretory recombinant gene products

Non-autologous somatic gene therapy is an alternate approach to delivering recombinant gene products through implantation of a "universal" donor cell line engineered to produce a therapeutic gene product. The cells are immunologically isolated by enclosure in immunoprotective microcapsules fabricated from alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate. The molecular weight cutoff of these microcapsules was thought to be <100 kd, thus, excluding the immunoglobulins. However, when such microcapsules are fabricated to enclose cells, they show a higher permeability threshold than expected. The secretion rates of recombinant gene products ranging from 21 through 150 to 300 kd (human growth hormone, rat serum albumin, human arylsulfatase A, human immunoglobulin, mouse beta-hexosaminidase, mouse beta-glucuronidase) were similar between the nonencapsulated and encapsulated recombinant cells with the exception of the largest molecular species, the 300-kd beta-glucuronidase. Its secretion was reduced about eightfold after encapsulation. Increasing the thickness of the membrane by prolonging the coating time with poly-L-lysine did not provide a lower molecular weight cutoff. An additional coating with alginate, however, reduced the leakage of the larger molecular species, but the effect was short lived: After 2 weeks in culture, the double- and single-coated microcapsules were equally permeable. Both the increased poly-L-lysine and alginate coating were detrimental to the long-term viability and proliferation of the encapsulated cells. Hence, immunoisolation of encapsulated cells with alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate microcapsules cannot provide a molecular weight cutoff below 300 kd. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Process optimization for microencapsulation of probiotic yeasts

Background

Microencapsulation is a technique which improves the survival and viability of probiotics. We demonstrate encapsulation of five potential probiotic yeasts with alginate and gum as encapsulation matrices to improve their gastrointestinal transit.

Methods

Gum extracted from various cereals viz. rice, oats, barley, finger millet and pearl millet along with alginate have been used to encapsulate five potential probiotic yeasts. Screening was carried out by measuring swelling index, encapsulation efficiency and nutritional value of microcapsules encapsulated with alginate and gum. The concentration of OBG, sodium alginate and inoculum dosage of probiotic yeasts was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Efficiency of alginate OBG microcapsules with or without coating materials viz. whey protein and chitosan also tested. The mucoadhesion ability and storage stability of alginate OBG microcapsules with coating materials were tested.

Results

Highest encapsulation efficiency of probiotic yeasts was noted using oats bran gum (OBG) microcapsules along with alginate in all the five probiotic yeasts. Notably whey protein coated microcapsules showed maximum GIT tolerance (95%) and mucoadhesion (90%) for L. starkeyi VIT-MN03. The minimum loss of viability was observed in L. starkeyi VITMN03 microcapsules on 60th day of storage.

Conclusions

This is the first report on optimization and survival of microencapsulated probiotic yeasts under simulated GIT conditions using natural gum and alginate as encapsulation matrices and whey protein as coating material.

     

Transplantation of polymer encapsulated neurotransmitter secreting cells: effect of the encapsulation technique

Deficits associated with neurological diseases may be improved by the transplantation within the brain lesioned target structure of polymer encapsulated cells releasing the missing neurotransmitter. Surrounding cells with a permselective membrane of appropriate molecular weight cut-off allows inward diffusion of nutrients and outward diffusion of neurotransmitters, but prevents immunoglobulins or immune cells from reaching the transplant. This technique therefore allows transplantation of post-mitotic cells across species. It also permits neural grafting of transformed cell lines since the polymer capsule prevents the formation of tumors by physically sequestering the transplanted tissue. In the present study, we compared the ability of dopamine-secreting cells, encapsulated by 2 different methods, to reverse experimental Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor disturbances due to a lack of dopamine within the striatum following degeneration of the dopaminergic nigro-striatal pathway. PC12 cells were loaded in polyelectrolyte-based microcapsules or thermoplastic-based macrocapsules and maintained in vitro or transplanted in a rat experimental Parkinson model for 4 weeks. Chemically-induced depolarization increased the in vitro release of dopamine from macrocapsules over time, while no increase in release was observed from microcapsules. Encapsulated PC12 cells were able to reduce lesion-induced rotational asymmetry in rats for at least 4 weeks, regardless of the encapsulation technique used. With both encapsulation methods, PC12 cell viability was greater in vivo than in vitro which suggests that the striatum releases trophic factors for PC12 cells. More brain tissue damage was observed with microcapsules than macrocapsules, possibly the result of the difficulty of manipulating the more fragile microcapsules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hibernation, reversible cell growth inhibition by epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate

Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg) and related polyphenolic compounds found in tea are known to have antioxidative activities. However, they also have pro-oxidative activities such as generation of hydrogen peroxide. In this report, we investigated the effect on cells and showed the potential usage of EGCg in cell preservation. H(2)O(2) was generated from EGCg at concentrations of more than 300 microg/mL for 6 h at 37 degrees C, and high cytotoxicity for L929 cells were shown. In contrast, in the presence of 1 microg/mL catalase, the amount of generated H(2)O(2) was significantly low and cytotoxicity decreased markedly. This indicates that catalase eliminated H(2)O(2) generated by degradation of EGCg. Although H(2)O(2) generation was prevented, L929 cell proliferation was slightly inhibited in proportion to the concentrations of EGCg. L929 was exposed able to be 300 microg/mL to EGCg and 1 microg/mL catalase for maximum 18 days. EGCg inhibited the growth of L929 cells, and cell proliferation was restarted immediately after medium change for removing EGCg. We concluded that EGCg had a reversible growth inhibition when H(2)O(2) was eliminated from cell cultures.     

AS1411 aptamer tagged PLGA-lecithin-PEG nanoparticles for tumor cell targeting and drug delivery

Liposomes and polymers are widely used drug carriers for controlled release since they offer many advantages like increased treatment effectiveness, reduced toxicity and are of biodegradable nature. In this work, anticancer drug‐loaded PLGA‐lecithin‐PEG nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and were functionalized with AS1411 anti‐nucleolin aptamers for site‐specific targeting against tumor cells which over expresses nucleolin receptors. The particles were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The drug‐loading efficiency, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release studies were conducted using UV spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out in two different cancer cell lines, MCF‐7 and GI‐1 cells and two different normal cells, L929 cells and HMEC cells. Confocal microscopy and flowcytometry confirmed the cellular uptake of particles and targeted drug delivery. The morphology analysis of the NPs proved that the particles were smooth and spherical in shape with a size ranging from 60 to 110 nm. Drug‐loading studies indicated that under the same drug loading, the aptamer‐targeted NPs show enhanced cancer killing effect compared to the corresponding non‐targeted NPs. In addition, the PLGA‐lecithin‐PEG NPs exhibited high encapsulation efficiency and superior sustained drug release than the drug loaded in plain PLGA NPs. The results confirmed that AS1411 aptamer‐PLGA‐lecithin‐PEG NPs are potential carrier candidates for differential targeted drug delivery. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2920–2931. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Scalable encapsulation of hepatocytes by electrostatic spraying

Encapsulating cells by polyelectrolyte complex coacervation can be accomplished at physiological temperature and buffer conditions. One of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in the microcapsule core can be collagen or any other natural extra-cellular matrices suitable for cellular support while the other polyelectrolyte forms the ultra-thin shell to ensure efficient mass transfer. These microcapsules with ultra-thin shell are difficult to produce in large quantities due to their fragility. In this study, electrostatic spraying technique was used to achieve a scalable production of one such type of microcapsules formed by complex coacervation between the cationic methylated collagen and anionic terpolymer of hydroxylethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and methylacrylic acid (HEMA-MMA-MAA). It was found that the microcapsule sizes were dependent on several important operational parameters, such as the diameter of the spraying needle, the flow rate of the hepatocytes-collagen mixture and the voltage of the electrical field. The microcapsules with diameters of 200-800 microm and a narrow size distribution (standard deviation of 5-28%) were successfully produced. The above parameters also influenced the hepatocyte viability and functions. With a practical encapsulation rate of up to 55 ml/h per orifice required in bio-artificial liver-assisted device applications, we have produced large quantities of microcapsules maintaining comparable cell viability (>87%), mechanical stability and bio-functions to the manually extruded microcapsules.