Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Alginate Encapsulation of Pluripotent Stem Cells Using a Co-axial Nozzle
Published on: July 2, 2015
Novel calcium-alginate capsules with aqueous core and thermo-responsive membrane
Ji-Yun Wang1, Yao Jin, Rui Xie
1School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China.
Abstract:
Novel calcium-alginate (Ca-alginate) capsules with aqueous core and thermo-responsive membrane are successfully prepared by introducing a co-extrusion minifluidic approach, and the thermo-responsive gating characteristics of Ca-alginate capsule membranes embedded with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microspheres are investigated systematically. The experimental results show that the prepared Ca-alginate capsules are highly monodisperse, and the average diameter and membrane thickness of Ca-alginate capsules are about 2.96 mm and 0.11 mm respectively. The Ca-alginate capsule membranes exhibit desired thermo-responsive gating property. With increasing the content of PNIPAM microspheres embedded in the Ca-alginate capsule membranes, the thermo-responsive gating coefficient of the capsule membranes increases simply. When solute molecules diffuse through the capsule membrane, the thermo-responsive gating coefficient is significantly affected by the molecular weight of solute molecules.
Related Concept Videos
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Delayed-Release Systems
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Rate-Programmed II
Formulation and Manufacturing Process: Physical Attributes of Generic Tablets and Capsules
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Introduction

