Polyelectrolyte microcapsules prepared by alginate and chitosan for biomedical application

Abstract

This review highlights the progress in the structure and chemical properties of natural polysaccharides (alginate and chitosan) including gel formation, biocompatibility, biodegradability and mild reaction ability; preparation technologies of microcapsules (polyelectrolyte complexation/polyelectrolyle layer-by-layer self assembly), and the evaluation methods on microcapsule's mechanical and permeable properties; microcapsules entrapping cells secreting therapeutics (such as insulin and dopamine) or decomposing toxic metabolites ( such as urea) in vivo, microcapsules serving as three-dimensional drug screening systems and microenvironment for the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, microcapsules serving as the drug carriers for controlled release. Finally, the challenge and problem for the development of microcapsules are discussed.