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Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules: A Laboratory Experiment on Polymeric Self-Assembly, Microencapsulation, and the Underlying Chemistry

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Title: Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules: A Laboratory Experiment on Polymeric Self-Assembly, Microencapsulation, and the Underlying Chemistry
Language: English
Authors: Sathi Roy (ORCID 0000-0002-0645-5386), Soumyadip Roy, Arunima Sinha, Debayan Chatterjee (ORCID 0009-0008-2623-8064), Deep Biswas, Indranath Chakraborty (ORCID 0000-0003-4195-9384), Suman Chakraborty (ORCID 0000-0002-5454-9766)
Source: Journal of Chemical Education. 2026 103(3):1538-1545.
Availability: Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Science Experiments, Laboratory Experiments, Plastics, Chemistry, Scientific Concepts, Spectroscopy, Biomedicine, Science Education
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c01139
ISSN: 0021-9584
1938-1328
Abstract: A laboratory experiment was developed to introduce the concept of polymeric self-assembly to the students via an interactive practical experience. Here, it is demonstrated how oppositely charged polymers can self-assemble layer by layer to build polymeric microcapsules and how this process can be used to encapsulate cargo molecules. The as-synthesized microcapsules were characterized by optical microscope, and bovine serum albumin protein is used as a model cargo system to study the encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules through UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. This experiment enables the students to understand the chemistry behind electrostatic self-assembly and its application in hollow capsule formation, which has been extensively explored as a delivery vehicle in biomedical applications. The spherical hollow microcapsules are noteworthy because of their propensity to incorporate and protect the cargo molecules in their inner cavities. This experiment is especially appropriate for an interdisciplinary elective course as it connects concepts and techniques from chemistry, materials science, analytical spectroscopy, and biomedical applications.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499664
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules: A Laboratory Experiment on Polymeric Self-Assembly, Microencapsulation, and the Underlying Chemistry
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sathi+Roy%22">Sathi Roy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0645-5386">0000-0002-0645-5386</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Soumyadip+Roy%22">Soumyadip Roy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Arunima+Sinha%22">Arunima Sinha</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Debayan+Chatterjee%22">Debayan Chatterjee</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2623-8064">0009-0008-2623-8064</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deep+Biswas%22">Deep Biswas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Indranath+Chakraborty%22">Indranath Chakraborty</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4195-9384">0000-0003-4195-9384</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suman+Chakraborty%22">Suman Chakraborty</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5454-9766">0000-0002-5454-9766</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Chemical+Education%22"><i>Journal of Chemical Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 103(3):1538-1545.
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  Data: Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
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  Data: A laboratory experiment was developed to introduce the concept of polymeric self-assembly to the students via an interactive practical experience. Here, it is demonstrated how oppositely charged polymers can self-assemble layer by layer to build polymeric microcapsules and how this process can be used to encapsulate cargo molecules. The as-synthesized microcapsules were characterized by optical microscope, and bovine serum albumin protein is used as a model cargo system to study the encapsulation efficiency of the microcapsules through UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. This experiment enables the students to understand the chemistry behind electrostatic self-assembly and its application in hollow capsule formation, which has been extensively explored as a delivery vehicle in biomedical applications. The spherical hollow microcapsules are noteworthy because of their propensity to incorporate and protect the cargo molecules in their inner cavities. This experiment is especially appropriate for an interdisciplinary elective course as it connects concepts and techniques from chemistry, materials science, analytical spectroscopy, and biomedical applications.
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