title: Layer-by-layer microcapsules templated on erythrocyte ghost carriers.
abstract: This work reports the fabrication of layer-by-layer (LbL) microcapsules that provide a simple mean for controlling the burst and subsequent release of bioactive agents. Red blood cell (RBC) ghosts were loaded with fluorescently labeled dextran and lysozyme as model compounds via hypotonic dialysis with an encapsulation efficiency of 27-31%. It is demonstrated that these vesicles maintain their shape and integrity and that a uniform distribution of the encapsulated agents within these carriers is achieved. The loaded vesicles were then successfully coated with the biocompatible polyelectrolytes, poly-L-arginine hydrochloride and dextran sulfate. It is demonstrated that the release profiles of the encapsulated molecules can be regulated over a wide range by adjusting the number of polyelectrolyte layers. In addition, the LbL shell also protects the RBC ghost from decomposition thereby potentially preserving the bioactivity of encapsulated drugs or proteins. These microcapsules, consisting of an RBC ghost coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer, provide a simple mean for the preparation of loaded LbL microcapsules eliminating the core dissolution and post-loading of bioactive agents, which are required for conventional LbL microcapsules.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mutukumaraswamy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaillender
authors.forename: Rongcong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Subbu S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neu
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002214:Capsules; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009113:Muramidase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules; D003911:Dextrans; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010455:Peptides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; C015462:polyarginine; D009113:Muramidase