Microencapsulation of Traditional Chinese Herbs—PentaHerbs extracts and potential application in healthcare textiles

• Traditional Chinese Herbs (TCH)—PentaHerbs were successfully microencapsulated in chitosan–sodium alginate (CSA) blend matrix.
• Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form.
• The release performance of the microcapsules was influenced by pH value of phosphate buffer solution (PBS).
• The microcapsules had no toxic effects on cells and showed good cellular compatibility.
• The microcapsules were successfully grafted onto the surface of cotton fabric.

In this work, Traditional Chinese Herbs (TCH)—PentaHerbs—was successfully microencapsulated in chitosan–sodium alginate (CSA) blend matrix using emulsion-chemical cross-linking method and the final product was characterised with regard to structure, surface morphology, particle size, in vitro drug release and skin toxicity by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction particle size analysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays respectively. Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form with diameter mostly in the range of 3–18 μm and that the release performance of the microcapsules was influenced by pH value of phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The microcapsules had no toxic effects on cells and were successfully grafted onto the surface of cotton fabrics. These results indicated that PentaHerbs loaded CSA microcapsule may possess potential application in clinical treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

SEM images of (a) control cotton fibre; and (b) cotton fibre embedded with PentaHerbs microcapsules (1000×).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide