<br/><br/> Microencapsulation is an attractive route for protecting sensitive molecules from external physical, chemical and biological damages. Also, by engineering the capsule wall it is possible to allow passage of selective molecules while filtering away unwanted molecules. In this study, the nanoporous “cage-like” microcapsules, with glucose oxidase enzyme (GOX) in the capsule interior, were prepared for bio-sensing applications. The microcapsules were fabricated by Layer-by-Layer using plant cell wall polysaccharides Pectin, Xyloglucan and Cellulose nanofibers. The resulting microcapsules demonstrated biocompatibility, switchable permeability owning to pectin, and robust structural stability as a consequence of CNFs and Xyloglucan in the microcapsule wall. The microcapsules permeability was ≤ ~12 – 54 nm in water or salt. The nanofibrous microcapsule walls allowed for efficient passage of small molecules while screening out larger molecules and retaining the loaded molecules. The microcapsules’ stability, immobilizability on different kinds of substrates and the porous nature, together with selective permeability were utilized to make biosensor. Electrochemical measurements were carried out at RT for different glucose concentrations (0.1 to 10 mM). The enzymes were active even after two days of continuous measurements and the microcapsules’ structural integrity was not affected. The enzymes which are sensitive to crosslinking, limits their applications in rapid diagnostics, but could be retained within these microcapsules without cross-linking. The dual function of these microcapsules, possibilities of surface functionalization and their unique permeability properties is of great interest for different kinds of electrochemical applications.

Cage-like cellulose nanofiber-based microcapsules for electrochemical and biosensor applications

256th National Meeting (2018)

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