Soft microcapsules with highly plastic shells formed by interfacial polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle complexation

Gilad Kaufman, Siamak Nejati, Raphael Sarfati, Rostislav Boltyanskiy, Michael Loewenberg, Eric R. Dufresne, Chinedum O. Osuji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Composite microcapsules have been aggressively pursued as designed chemical entities for biomedical and other applications. Common preparations rely on multi-step, time consuming processes. Here, we present a single-step approach to fabricate such microcapsules with shells composed of nanoparticle-polyelectrolyte and protein-polyelectrolyte complexes, and demonstrate control of the mechanical and release properties of these constructs. Interfacial polyelectrolyte-nanoparticle and polyelectrolyte-protein complexation across a water-oil droplet interface results in the formation of capsules with shell thicknesses of a few μm. Silica shell microcapsules exhibited a significant plastic response at small deformations, whereas lysozyme incorporated shells displayed a more elastic response. We exploit the plasticity of nanoparticle incorporated shells to produce microcapsules with high aspect ratio protrusions by micropipette aspiration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7478-7482
Number of pages5
JournalSoft Matter
Volume11
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 7 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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