Hydroxyapatite-coated poly(-caprolactone) microspheres fabricated via a Pickering emulsion route: Effect of fabrication parameters on diameter and chemical composition

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticle-coated poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) microspheres were fabricated via surfactant-free 'Pickering-type' emulsion solvent evaporation method in the absence of any molecular surfactants. HAp nanoparticles worked as an efficient stabilizer for dispersion of emulsions and microspheres. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction particle size analyzer, and elemental analysis were used to characterize the microspheres in terms of their size, dispersibility in aqueous media, morphology of the microspheres, and chemical compositions. The microsphere size and PCL/HAp weight ratio were successfully controlled by fabrication parameters (PCL concentration in the oil phase, HAp nanoparticle concentration in the aqueous phase, and homogenization rate): number-average diameter of the microspheres was systematically controlled over a wide range (9.2.25.1 μm) and PCL/HAp weight ratio was controlled to be between 74.0/26.0 and 99.8/0.2. Laser diffraction and optical microscopy studies of dilute aqueous dispersions indicate that the polymer microspheres disperse stably before and after evaporation of the oil. Potential applications for these HAp-coated PCL microspheres include carriers for cell delivery in tissue engineering and for sustained release of therapeutics.