Two-component, ultrathin microcapsules prepared by a core-mediated layer-by-layer approach

Abstract

We report the preparation of two-component microcapsules by a method termed core-mediated layer-by-layer (LbL) growth, which utilizes a core particle to mediate the formation of thin multilayer coatings on particles, followed by core removal. In the first (model) system to demonstrate the process, multilayers were prepared on spherical, decomposable melamine formaldehyde (MF) particles by the alternating deposition of poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) from solution and MF originating from partial decomposition of the MF core (in-situ acid-decomposed MF, dMF) in a pH 4.0 buffer. The core-mediated LbL method was also applied to a purely biocompatible system, consisting of a sodium alginate (Alg) co..