Abstract
A biocompatible emulsification method for microencapsulation of live cells and enzymes within a calcium alginate matrix applied to Bacillus Calmette-Gukrin (BCG) has been developed. Small-diameter alginate beads (microcapsules) were formed via internal gelation of an alginate solution emulsified within vegetable oil., Five different oils (sesamesweet almondperhydrosqualenecamomile and jojoba) were used., The rheological analysis of the oils showed a Newtonian behaviourwith viscosities = 30.037.751.259.3 and 67.1 mPa.s for perhydrosqualenejojobacamomilesesame and sweet almond oil respectively., The particle size of the microcapsules obtained ranged from 30.3 μm for the microcapsules prepared with sweet almond oil to 57.0 μm for those made with perhydrosqualene., The mean particle diameter obtained was found to be dependent on the viscosity of the oil employedaccording to the equation: (μm) = 76.6–0.628 (mPa.s) (r2 = 0.943)., The encapsulated BCG was identified by the Difco TB stain set Kfollowed by observation under optical microscopy., Freeze-drying of the microcapsules was carried out to ensure their stability during storage., Two batches of microcapsules (those prepared with sesame and jojoba oil) and four types of cryoprotectors (glucosetrehalosemannitol and sorbitol)at three concentration levels (510 and 20% w/v) were studied., The parameters evaluated were particle sizephysical appearancereconstitution of lyophilizates and microscopical evaluation., For both batches of microcapsules the best results were obtained with trehalose 5%showing particle sizes of 42 1 μm in the case of the microcapsules prepared with sesame oiland of 45.3 μm for those prepared with jojoba.