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Bioinspired dynamic microcapsules.
N F D AlDala'een1, W N K W Mohamad, N Alias
1Faculty of Innovative Design & Technology, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Gong Badak Campus, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. javeedsm@unisza.edu.my.
Soft Matter
|December 8, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed bioinspired Dynamic MicroCapsules (DynaMicCaps) using calmodulin (CaM) and polyelectrolytes. These dynamic materials exhibit significant, reversible volume changes in response to specific biochemical triggers, showing promise for controlled payload release.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Nature provides diverse protein domains with unique ligand binding and conformational changes, such as calmodulin (CaM).
- Calmodulin exhibits distinct conformational states (Apo, Ca2+-bound, ligand-bound) with significant structural changes (5 nm to 1.5 nm).
- These CaM-driven nanoscale conformational changes are ideal for engineering responsive dynamic materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize novel layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled Dynamic MicroCapsules (DynaMicCaps).
- To investigate the bio-responsive behavior of DynaMicCaps incorporating calmodulin (CaM) within polyelectrolyte multilayer shells.
- To assess the potential of DynaMicCaps for controlled payload release applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of Dynamic MicroCapsules (DynaMicCaps) using layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly.
- Incorporation of calmodulin (CaM) into polyelectrolyte multilayer shell walls.
- Quasi-dynamic perfusion experiments to evaluate volume changes in response to biochemical triggers (trifluoperazine, TFP) and pH variations.
Main Results:
- DynaMicCaps demonstrated drastic reversible volume increases (up to ~1500%) upon exposure to trifluoperazine (TFP) at pH 6.3.
- Microcapsules without CaM showed significantly smaller volume changes (~290%), confirming CaM's bio-responsiveness.
- DynaMicCaps exhibited controlled volume changes (~580% increase) when exposed to 0.1 M NaOH.
Conclusions:
- DynaMicCaps represent a novel class of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) capsules with retained bio-responsiveness.
- The significant, trigger-specific volume changes suggest potential for controlled payload release near physiological pH.
- The modular design allows for the development of diverse DynaMicCaps using other responsive proteins.
