Polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules templated on spherical, elliptical and square calcium carbonate particles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Particle shape significantly influences cellular interactions and internalization.
• Elongated particles demonstrate superior intercellular uptake compared to other shapes.
• Developing methods for fabricating precisely shaped particles is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate anisotropic polyelectrolyte multilayer capsules using tailored calcium carbonate templates.
• To investigate the influence of template shape on capsule morphology and properties.
• To demonstrate the potential of these capsules for cellular applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of spherical, ellipsoid-like, and square calcium carbonate (CaCO3) templates via controlled precipitation.
• Coating of CaCO3 templates with polyelectrolytes, including loading with FITC-dextran.
• Core removal to yield hollow anisotropic capsules.
• Characterization using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated CaCO3 templates with controlled shapes (spherical, ellipsoid-like, square).
• Polyelectrolyte capsules retained the templated shapes after core removal.
• FITC-dextran loaded capsules demonstrated shape integrity.
• Quantitative analysis confirmed shape-dependent characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Anisotropic polyelectrolyte capsules with defined shapes can be fabricated using CaCO3 templates.
• The developed method allows for the creation of shape-specific capsules for potential use in cellular delivery.
• Shape-retaining capsules hold promise for improved cellular interactions and targeted therapeutic delivery.