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Design of starch-formate compound fibers as encapsulation platform for biotherapeutics

  • Anica Lancuški
  • , Abu Ammar Aiman
  • , Ron Avrahami
  • , Rita Vilensky
  • , Gleb Vasilyev
  • , Eyal Zussman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Effective encapsulation and protection of biotherapeutics using a bio-based carrier, preferably issued from renewable resources, remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate application of coaxial electrospinning to fabric starch-based core-sheath compound fibers as a bacterial cells’ carrier. Starch-formate is employed as an encapsulation agent, while the fiber core is made of glycerol, serving as a cell suspension medium. SEM microscopy reveals a distinct core-sheath morphology of the starch-formate/glycerol (SFG) compound fibers with mean diameters of 4.13 ± 1.05 μm. Calorimetric and thermomechanical analyses and FTIR spectroscopy show a progressive interaction between the starch-formate and the glycerol with time, pronounced with temperature increase. SFG fibers with encapsulated Lactobacillus paracasei are proved stable with retained bacterial viability when stored at 4 °C and room temperature for up to 21 days. SFG fibers present a potential biotherapeutic products’ encapsulation platform, guaranteeing the stability at refrigerated and ambient storage conditions, as determined in this study.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)68-76
Number of pages9
JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
Volume158
DOIs
StatePublished - 20 Feb 2017

Keywords

  • Drug delivery systems
  • Electrospun fibers
  • Microencapsulation
  • Starch
  • Structure-property relations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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