title: Multifunctional compartmentalized capsules with a hierarchical organization from the nano to the macro scales.
abstract: Inspired by the cells' structure, we present compartmentalized capsules with temperature and magnetic-based responsiveness and hierarchical organization ranging from the nano- to the visible scales. Liquefied alginate macroscopic beads coated with a layer-by-layer (LbL) chitosan/alginate shell served as containers both for model fluorophores and microcapsules, which in their turn encapsulated either another fluorophore or magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The microcapsules were coated with a temperature-responsive chitosan/elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) nanostructured shell. By varying the temperature from 25 to 37 °C, the two-hour release of rhodamine encapsulated within the microcapsules and its diffusion through the external compartment decreased from 84% and 71%. The devices could withstand handling and centrifugal stress, with 50% remaining intact at a rotation speed of 2000g. MNPs attributed magnetic responsiveness toward external magnetic fields. Such a customizable system can be envisaged to transport bioactive agents and cells in tissue engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group-Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, S. Cláudio do Barco, 4806-909 Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: J Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cabello
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D012235:Rhodamines; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan