Fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan microcapsules by electrospray technique

Carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan (CMC/CS) microcapsules were prepared by electrospray. The structure, mean particles size and morphology of produced microcapsules were characterized by inverted microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The effects of preparation conditions (such as flow rate, working voltage, the distance from needle-to-collector, coagulating bath and polyelectrolyte concentrations) on the shape and size of the microcapsules were investigated. The diameters of microcapsules were controlled from 100 μm to 110 μm by adjusting preparation conditions. Tetracycline was encapsulated in the CMC/CS microcapsules with high encapsulation efficiencies (99.5%). Release behaviours for tetracycline demonstrate that the microcapsules have pH triggered controlled release property.