Design of Tailor-Made Biopolymer-Based Capsules for Biological Application by Combining Porous Particles and Polysaccharide Assembly

Abstract

Various approaches have been described in the literature to demonstrate the possibility of designing biopolymer particles with well-defined characteristics, such as size, chemical composition or mechanical properties. From a biological point of view, the properties of particle have been related to their biodistribution and bioavailability. Among the reported core–shell nanoparticles, biopolymer-based capsules can be used as a versatile platform for drug delivery purposes. Among the known biopolymers, the present review focuses on polysaccharide-based capsules. We only report on biopolyelectrolyte capsules fabricated by combining porous particles as a template and using the layer-by-layer technique. The review focuses on the major steps of the capsule design, i.e., the fabrication and subsequent use of the sacrificial porous template, multilayer coating with polysaccharides, the removal of the porous template to obtain the capsules, capsule characterisation and the application of capsules in the biomedical field. In the last part, selected examples are presented to evidence the major benefits of using polysaccharide-based capsules for biological purposes.

Functionalized Calcium Carbonate–Based Microparticles as a Versatile Tool for Targeted Cancer Treatment

“…Polymer microcapsules [16,25] are particularly interesting because of their capacity for encapsulating therapeutic agents while avoiding the adverse effect of CaCO3 on the cellular calcium balance. They also can be designed to respond to specific stimuli, allowing for targeted drug release within tumors [26,27].…”

“…Three main types of CaCO3-based microparticles with sizes ranging from about 0.2 to 6 μm have been extensively studied: core-only microparticles, polymer-coated cores (or core/shell microparticles), and hollow (shell) polymer capsules, for which CaCO3 particles are used as sacrificial templates [2,15,16] (Figure 1). Each of these types possesses unique characteristics suitable for specific applications in cancer treatment.…”

Modification of fibre materials properties with the use of nanotechnologies

“…Это могут быть неорганические или органические частицы размером от 20 нм до десятков микрон, микро-и нанокристаллы лекарства или красителя, уплотненная ДНК, белковые агрегаты и биологические клетки [64]. В качестве темплатов используют карбонаты кальция [65] и марганца, фосфат кальция [66], частицы оксида кремния [67], микрочастицы полимеров, например, на основе меламинформальдегидной смолы [68].…”

Modification of fibre materials properties with the use of nanotechnologies

“…These can be inorganic or organic particles ranging in size from 20 nm to tens of microns, micro-and nanocrystals of drugs or dyes, compacted DNA, protein aggregates and biological cells [64]. Calcium [65] and manganese carbonates [65], calcium phosphate [66], silicon oxide particles [67], polymer microparticles, for example, based on melamine formaldehyde resin [68] are used as templates.…”