Organic-Inorganic Multilayer Microcarriers with Superior Mechanical Properties for Potential Active Delivery in...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional microcapsules often rely on microplastics like melamine-formaldehyde, raising environmental concerns.
• There is a growing need for sustainable and mechanically robust microencapsulation technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an eco-friendly and highly durable core-shell composite microcapsule.
• To engineer microcapsules with superior mechanical properties for industrial applications.
• To investigate the controlled release characteristics and binding interactions within the microcapsules.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of CaCO3 shell microcapsules via crystal ripening with poly(acrylic acid).
• Encapsulation of hexylsalicylate oil core with SiO2 nanoparticles and a polydopamine coating.
• Mechanical property evaluation using compression tests and release studies in a water-propanol medium.

Main Results:

• Spherical microcapsules (8.8 ± 0.3 μm) with a smooth surface were successfully synthesized.
• Achieved a mean rupture stress of 73.5 ± 5.0 MPa, significantly exceeding existing microcarriers.
• Demonstrated controlled release kinetics, with 10-20% release in 2 hours and full release over 3 days.

Conclusions:

• The developed microcapsules offer a sustainable, high-strength alternative to microplastic-based materials.
• Their exceptional mechanical properties and controlled release make them suitable for various consumer goods.
• A novel pathway-specific binding constant (PSBC) was proposed to describe Ca2+-poly(acrylic acid) interactions.