Microcompartmentalized fiber structure for the encapsulation and release of model compounds

Abstract

Achieving compartmentalization of chemical environments on a micro-scale is of increasing interest in fields ranging from drug delivery to tissue engineering. The separation of chemical microenvironments is made possible through structural systems such as micro droplets and fibers. A novel structure composed of microfibers with embedded double emulsions is described and characterized. This system incorporates several unique chemical environments within a single and robust structure. The following study investigates capabilities of the droplet-in- fiber system to load and release cargo in different compositional phases. Biologically relevant compounds are incorporated into each unique compartment and distinct release profiles and release time scales are observed for each of the structural components. In addition, it is possible to load cells, magnetic particles, and antimicrobial agents into the structure to yield further functionality. The droplet-in-fiber structure constitutes a model system for incorporating incompatible materials in close proximity by loading each into its respective structural compartment. The conjunction of these studies represents the first quantitative measurements of release profiles from a novel compartmentalizing microstructure.