Coating a shell on alginate microsphere by liquid phase deposition

A novel core-shell structure of alginate microspheres, was prepared via electrospray and chemical liquid phase deposition successfully. The shell structure could be seen obviously under the optical microscope. The stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) was loaded into the microspheres and the homing effect of pre-osteoblasts was tested through a chemotaxis assay with transwell system. This is a promising material for achieving the encapsulation of cytokines and any other hydrophilic drug.