ISSN:
0006-3592
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Poly(styrene) microcapsules, prepared by depositing the polymer around emulsified aqueous droplets, were coated with a synthesized polyelectrolyte; i.e., copolymer of maleic acid (MA) with methyl vinyl ether (MVE), co-poly(MA, MVE), or with styrene (St), copoly(Ma, St). The permeability of the capsule membrane was investigated under various pHs of the outer medium using n-propyl alcohol as a permeant. It became apparent that either copoly(MA, St)- or copoly(MA, MVE)-coated microcapsules function as a pH-sensitive capsule. In particular, the former showed a dramatic change of the permeability in response to small differences in pH (5-6). By reference to the viscometric and electrophoretic studies of both copolymers, these were interpreted as being due to a pH-induced alteration of the configuration of the copolymer coating on the surface of the capsule membrane. When sucrose was hydrolyzed in an aqueous suspension of the copoly(MA, St)-coated capsules into which invertase was loaded, the hydrolytic reaction was initiated at pH 5. 5 and stopped at pH 4. 5. Such initiation-cessation control was repeated reversibly without damaging the capsules.
Additional Material:
10 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.260320305
Permalink