MICROENCAPSULATION OF PROTEINS WITHIN CACO_3 MICROSPHERES USING SUPERCRITICAL CO_2 MEDIA

摘要

This study is a preliminary work of a global project aiming at conceiving and characterizing implantable synthetic extracellular matrices seeded with calcium carbonate multifunctional particles and releasing therapeutic biomolecules, for bone and cartilage tissue engineering. The formulation method of CaCO_3 microparticles is based on the formation of an emulsion of water in SC-CO_2 (W/C). Hollow and spherical microparticles with a 5 urn diameter were successfully obtained and fully characterized. Encapsulation experiments were carried out using lysozyme as model protein. Encapsulation yield and lysozyme loading can reach respectively up to 60 % and 7 %. Moreover, protein release kinetics have been determined during 24 hours. Results were compared and discussed with the literature ones related to microencapsulation of lysozyme and other biomolecules within CaCO_3 particles. Hence, it permitted to bring out a proof of the concept of this emulsification process [1] for the encapsulation of model and therapeutic biomolecules.