Microfluidic Directed Synthesis of Alginate Nanogels with Tunable Pore Size for Efficient Protein Delivery

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b04645
• Publication Date: 2016-03-03T18:25:07Z
• Authors: Salime Bazban-Sho...; Erfan Dashtimoghadam; Akbar Karkhaneh; Mohammad Mahdi Ha...; Karl I. Jacob
• Keywords: Biopolymer; Nanogel

Alginate is a biopolymer with favorable pH-sensitive properties for oral delivery of peptides and proteins. However, conventional alginate nanogels have limitations such as low encapsulation efficiency because drug leaching during bead preparation burst release in high pH values. These shortcomings originate from large pore size the nanogels. In this work, we proposed an on-chip hydrodynamic flow focusing approach synthesis adjustable to achieve fine-tunable profile encapsulated bioactive agents. It demonstrated that microstructure can be controlled through adjusting ratio mixing time directed on microfluidic platforms consisting cross-junction microchannels. study, average (i.e., molecular weight between cross-links, Mc) was related parameters. Mc calculated equations based equilibrium swelling theory methods modify derived, compactness are key factors, which adjusted by controlling ratio. found increase increases decreases their compactness. The generated 0.02-0.2 measured range 68-138 nm. Moreover, method Mie implemented estimate aggregation number (Nagg) polymer chains inside indicator According results along modified theory, obtained 0.5-0.8 kDa. could considered promising efficient polypeptides sustained release.