Polylactic acid sealed polyelectrolyte complex microcontainers for controlled encapsulation and NIR-Laser based release of cargo

Publication date: 1 January 2019Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, Volume 173Author(s): Meiyu Gai, Wenhao Li, Johannes Frueh, Gleb B. SukhorukovAbstractSurface mediated drug delivery is important for a large variety of applications, especially in medicine to control cell growth, prevent blood platelet activation on implants or for self-disinfecting devices (e.g. catheters). In industrial applications, controlled release of substances from surfaces is needed in a broad range of applications from anti-corrosion systems to anti-biofouling. Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) based microcontainers (MCs) require several days production time, while MCs composed out of polylactic acid (PLA) are entirely hydrophobic, offering no functionality. We hereby present an approach to fabricate PLA coated synthetic as well as biopolymer based biodegradable polyelectrolyte complex MCs able to encapsulate small hydrophilic cargo within less than one hour. The chambers facilitate laser controlled release of cargo within submerged conditions.Graphical abstractPolyelectrolyte complexes comprising out of weak natural biodegradable as well as strong synthetic polyelectrolytes are embossed into microchamber arrays. These arrays can be sealed with a single dip coating step into PLA, enabling encapsulation of small hydrophilic molecules as well as stability towards aqueous environments. Introduction of gold nanoparticles allows for controlled laser based release of cargo.
Source: Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research