The aim of this work is to develop biomimetic microcapsules with structures similar to cell wall and explore their deformation under mechanical stress. To do this, we took advantage of the strong interaction of cellulose nanocrystals with xyloglucan already used to build flat multilayer systems [B. Jean, L. Heux, F. Dubreuil, G. Chambat and F. Cousin, Non-electrostatic building of biomimetic cellulose-xyloglucan multilayers, Langmuir, 25(7), 3920-3923 (2009)].  To reproduce the geometry of the cell, we were able to build microcapsules by combining oil-in-water emulsions with dimensions of about 20 microns and the deposit layer by layer of nanocrystals of cellulose and xyloglucan leading to biomimetic microcapsules. The regularity of layer deposition was followed by selective fluorescent labeling and the thickness of the wall and the organization were characterized by electron microscopy.  After drying and evaporation of the oily core, the microcapsules have deflated exhibiting various forms as revealed by 3D reconstruction from sections of confocal microscopy. We are currently investigating the relationship between the forms obtained from the dimensions and the mechanical properties of the wall [C. Quilliet, C. Zoldesi, C. Riera, A. van Blaaderen, and A. Imhof Anisotropic colloids through non-trivial buckling Eur. Phys. J. E, 27, 13{20} (2008)]. The control capsule size and thickness can explore different situations in terms of deformation behavior.

Elaboration and deformation of biomimetic microcapsules

247th National Meeting (2014)

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