A novel dual microsphere based on water-soluble thiolated chitosan/mesoporous calcium carbonate for controlled dual drug delivery

Chitosan based dual microspheres are expected to achieve multiple functions in drug delivery area. Herein, the dual microspheres based on thiolated chitosan (CS-TBA)/CaCO3 were fabricated by ionic gelation method. The obtained dual microspheres combine the benefits of CS-TBA for improved water solubility and CaCO3 for mesoporous structure. The microspheres display a sphere morphology with a diameter of 400–500 μm, in which CaCO3 particles with mesoporous structure are encapsulated. In vitro dual drug release shows a controlled manner for different drugs from CS-TBA/CaCO3 microspheres at different pH. The dual CS-TBA/CaCO3 microspheres can serve as a dual-drug delivery system and have potential applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.