Low-fouling, biofunctionalized, and biodegradable click capsules

Abstract

We report the synthesis of covalently stabilized hollow capsules from biodegradable materials using a combination of click chemistry and layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The biodegradable polymers poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) were modified with alkyne and azide moieties. Linear film buildup was observed for both materials on planar surfaces and colloidal silica templates. A variation of the assembly conditions, such as an increase in the salt concentration and variations in pH, was shown to increase the individual layer thickness by almost 200%. The biodegradable click capsules were analyzed with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force m..