Degradation controllable biomaterials constructed from lysozyme-loaded Ca-alginate microparticle/chitosan composites

A degradation controllable composite material was designed to resist the degradation rate variation caused by pH change. The degradation controllable composite materials were prepared by incorporating lysozyme-loaded Ca-alginate microparticles into chitosan matrix. In these materials, the Ca-alginate microparticle carriers can fast release large amount of lysozyme at higher pH to compensate the decrease in enzyme activity, and decrease the release amount at lower pH when lysozyme presents a high activity. Degradation study revealed that the difference among the degradation profiles at various pH values is significantly decreased, indicating an anti-pH-interference effect of the composite films. The result well proved our designing ideas. In addition, the power law and Michaelis equations were used to figure out the inherent relationship between the drug release behavior and the degradation process. Finally, the fluorescence microscopy observation and MTT assay show that the degradation controllable materials have good biocompatibility, which allow adhesion and proliferation of the examined cells.