title: Cellular uptake of multilayered capsules produced with natural and genetically engineered biomimetic macromolecules.
abstract: Multilayered microcapsules of chitosan and biomimetic elastin-like recombinamers (ELRs) were prepared envisaging the intracellular delivery of active agents. Two ELRs containing either a bioactive RGD sequence or a scrambled non-functional RDG were used to construct two types of functionalized polymeric microcapsules, both of spherical shape ∼4μm in diameter. Cell viability studies with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were performed using microcapsule/cell ratios between 5:1 and 100:1. After 3 and 72h of co-incubation, no signs of cytotoxicity were found, but cells incubated with RGD-functionalized microcapsules exhibited higher viability values than RDG cells. The internalization efficacy and bioavailability of encapsulated DQ-ovalbumin were assessed by monitoring the fluorescence changes in the cargo. The data show that surface functionalization did not significantly influence internalization by hMSCs, but the bioavailability of DQ-ovalbumin degraded faster when encapsulated within RGD-functionalized microcapsules. The microcapsules developed show promise for intracellular drug delivery with increased drug efficacy.
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; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: G.I.R. Bioforge, University of Valladolid, Edificio I+D, Paseo de Belén, 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girotti
authors.affiliation: G.I.R. Bioforge, University of Valladolid, Edificio I+D, Paseo de Belén, 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: G.I.R. Bioforge, University of Valladolid, Edificio I+D, Paseo de Belén, 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: F Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Arias
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; ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associated Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address: jmano@dep.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.affiliation: G.I.R. Bioforge, University of Valladolid, Edificio I+D, Paseo de Belén, 11, 47011 Valladolid, Spain; Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: J Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Cabello
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics; D002214:Capsules; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules
keywords: Biomaterials; Cellular uptake; Layer-by-layer; Multilayer capsules