Electrospun Polycaprolactone-Gelatin Fibrils Enabled 3D Hydrogel Microcapsules for Biomedical Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Microcapsules are crucial for protecting and delivering cells/drugs, promoting tissue regeneration, but alginate hydrogels suffer from mechanical instability and excessive porosity.
• Enhancing alginate microcapsules with nanofibrils can improve their biological and mechanical properties for advanced biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize PCL-gelatin (PG) nanofibers for embedding into alginate microcapsules.
• To optimize the electrospray process for creating stable and functional microcapsules.
• To evaluate the impact of solvent environments on microcapsule morphology, size, and mechanical stability.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and cryogrinding of electrospun PCL-gelatin (PG) composite nanofibers.
• Mixing PG powder with alginate solution and fabricating microcapsules via electrospray.
• Optimization of electrospray parameters (flow rate, voltage, composition) and characterization of microcapsules in different solvent environments (DI water, complete media, PBS).

Main Results:

• PG nanofibers exhibited diameters between 0.2-2 μm and porosity of 58-73%.
• Microcapsule sizes ranged from 300-900 μm, influenced by the solvent environment.
• The incorporation of PG nanofibers resulted in an improved alginate 3D hydrogel network.

Conclusions:

• Embedding PCL-gelatin nanofibers significantly enhances the properties of alginate microcapsules.
• The developed microcapsules demonstrate improved mechanical stability and morphology, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for creating advanced biomaterials for cell and drug delivery systems.