Biomineralization-inspired fabrication of chitosan/calcium carbonates core-shell type composite microparticles as a drug carrier

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 129; pp. 659 - 664
• Main Authors: Tanimoto, Satoshi, Nishii, Izuka, Kanaoka, Shokyoku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.05.2019
• Subjects: Acrylic Resins - chemistry; Calcium carbonate; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Core-shell particle; Drug carrier; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Liberation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Microspheres; Particle Size; pH responsibility; Polyglutamic Acid - chemistry; Drug carrier; Chitosan; Core-shell particle; pH responsibility; Calcium carbonate
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.02.063

Chitosan/calcium carbonate core-shell type composite microparticles were fabricated via a biomineralization-inspired process with chitosan particles as starting materials. The obtained composite particles were spherical, and the diameter of the composite particles was larger than that of the chitosan particles. XRD measurement indicated that the shell of the composite particle had a crystalline structure. The shell fabrication process was carried out with polyacrylic acid (PAA) or polyglutamic acid (PGlu) as binder molecules between calcium carbonate and chitosan. The crystal form of the shell fabricated with PAA was calcite, which is the most stable form of calcium carbonate crystal. On the other hand, the shell fabricated with PGlu was composed mainly with vaterite crystal, which is not a stable form. Types of the binder molecules influenced the crystal structure of the calcium carbonate shell. Drug release behavior of the model drug-introduced core-shell particles was evaluated in various pH conditions. It was revealed that the inorganic shell suppressed drug release and that the crystal form of the calcium carbonate shell affected suppression of drug release. The core-shell particles prepared in this study was an environmentally friendly hybrid product consisting of inorganic and organic materials and could be used as a novel drug-carrying microcapsule. •Biomimetic fabrication of chitosan/calcium carbonates core-shell particles.•The crystal form of calcium carbonate shell was controlled by binder substance.•Chitosan/calcium carbonate core-shell particle played a role of a drug carrier.•Drug release behavior of the core-shell particle showed pH dependence.