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Characteristics of Precipitation-formed Polyethylene Glycol Microgels Are Controlled by Molecular Weight of Reactants
Published on: December 23, 2013
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Control of silk microsphere formation using polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Jianbing Wu1, Zhaozhu Zheng1, Gang Li1
1National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Acta Biomaterialia
|May 17, 2016
Summary
A novel, one-step method rapidly prepares silk microspheres with tunable sizes (1-100μm) using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Larger microspheres demonstrate enhanced in vivo stability and reduced degradation, showing promise for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Silk fibroin is a promising biomaterial, but its processing into microspheres often involves complex, multi-step procedures.
- Existing methods for silk microsphere fabrication can utilize harsh conditions, limiting their biomedical applicability.
- Controlling particle size and properties is crucial for effective drug delivery and tissue engineering applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, rapid, and scalable method for preparing silk microspheres.
- To control the size and properties of silk microspheres by adjusting formulation parameters.
- To evaluate the in vivo behavior and stability of silk microspheres for potential biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- A one-step coacervation method was employed using silk fibroin and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
- Particle size was controlled by varying PEG molecular weight and concentration, alongside silk concentration.
- Incorporation of quantum dots (QDs) allowed for in vivo tracking and degradation studies.
Main Results:
- Silk microspheres with sizes ranging from 1-100μm were successfully prepared.
- Higher silk concentrations and specific PEG parameters yielded larger microspheres (e.g., ~30μm vs. ~4μm).
- Larger microspheres exhibited greater resistance to cellular uptake and degradation in vivo, with fluorescence detectable at 24 hours post-injection.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a straightforward and efficient approach for silk microsphere fabrication.
- Particle size significantly influences the in vivo behavior and clearance of silk microspheres.
- The use of FDA-approved materials (silk and PEG) supports the potential translation of these silk microspheres for diverse biomedical applications.
