title: Development of a microscale red blood cell-shaped pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel system using an electrospray-vibration method: preparation and characterization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and characterize a microscale pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsule system that could be applied in such biological fields as drug delivery, cell immobilization/encapsulation, and tissue engineering.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microscale pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsules were prepared by using the vibration/electrostatic spray method. The morphology and chemistry of the hydrogel microcapsules were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The designed hydrogel microcapsule system was then used to study the responsiveness of the microcapsules to different simulated human body fluids as well as cell encapsulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The designed hydrogel microcapsule system exhibited a large surface area-to-volume ratio (red blood cell-shaped) and great pH/enzymatic responsiveness. In addition, this system showed the potential for controlled drug delivery and three-dimensional cell culture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This system showed a significant potential not only for bioactive-agent delivery, especially to the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but also as a three-dimensional niche for cell culture. In particular, the hydrogel microcapsule system could be used to create artificial red-blood-cells as well as blood substitutes.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: James Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Crouse
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mahuta
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Brandon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mikulski
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Jenna N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Harvestine
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Jung C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Matey G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kaltchev
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Katarina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Midelfort
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Program, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tritt
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Junhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Engineering Program, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI - USA.
authors.forename: Wujie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C493484:oligochitosan; D002686:Chitin; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D010368:Pectins; D048271:Chitosan