title: Protein capsules with cross-linked, semipermeable, and enzyme-degradable surface barriers for controlled release.
abstract: This paper describes a method for fabricating protein-based capsules with semipermeable and enzyme-degradable surface barriers. It involves the use of a simple fluidic device to generate water-in-oil emulsion droplets, followed by cross-linking of proteins at the water-oil interface to generate a semipermeable surface barrier. The capsules can be readily fabricated with uniform and controllable sizes and, more importantly, show selective permeability toward molecules with different molecular weights: small molecules like fluorescein sodium salt can freely diffuse through the surface barrier while macromolecules such as proteins can not. The proteins, however, can be released by digesting the surface barrier with an enzyme such as pepsin. Taken together, the capsules hold great potential for applications in controlled release, in particular, for the delivery of protein drugs.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China.
authors: Jianhua
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Dong Choon
authors: DC
authors: Hyun
authors: Hang
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Hongkai
authors: H
authors: Wu
authors: Younan
authors: Y
authors: Xia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014867:Water; D010434:Pepsin A; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
keywords: controlled release; drug delivery; fluidic device; protein capsule