Spontaneous Hollow Coacervate Transition of Silk Fibroin via Dilution and Its Transition to Microcapsules.

ABSTRACT: Polymeric microcapsules are useful for drug delivery, microreactors, and cargo transport, but traditional fabrication methods require complex processes and harsh conditions. Coacervates, formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), offer a promising alternative for microcapsule fabrication. Recent studies have shown that coacervates can spontaneously form hollow cavities under specific conditions. Here, we investigate the spontaneous hollow coacervate transition of silk fibroin (SF). SF coacervates, induced by mixing SF with dextran, calcium ions, and copper ions, transition to hollow coacervates upon dilution. Adding ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) further transforms them into vesicle-like capsule coacervates, which solidify into microcapsules. As a proof-of-concept, we success

SUBMITTER: Yang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12004510 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature