SEMIPERMEABLE AQUEOUS MICROCAPSULES: I. PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES

Methods have been developed for depositing thin stable semipermeable polymer membranes around aqueous microdroplets (mean diameter down to 5 μ or less) by either interfacial polymerization or interfacial coacervation. The enclosed aqueous phase may contain enzymes or other proteins, cell fragments, or intact cells. Examples of methods for preparing such microcapsules are given in detail, and some of their properties are described.