Abstract

Alginate/poly(acryloxyethyl-trimethylammonium chloride-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [poly(Q-co-H)] microcapsules were prepared by ionic gelation (Ca2+) for adhesion and growth of goat mammary epithelial cell culture. In the procedure of microcapsule formation, alginate was first pumped into a CaCl2 solution and then transferred into a poly(Q-co-H). The poly(Q-co-H) was prepared by free-radical polymerization in aqueous solution at 60 degrees C using potassium persulfate as initiator. The microcapsules obtained were sterilized using gamma radiation according to International Standards Organization (ISO)/TR 13409. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated the high porosity and rough surface marked by large wrinkles of the microcapsule surface, and the diameter of the microcapsule was approximately 497 mu m, and diameters ranking 480-515 mu m were obtained. Optical michrography shows the epithelial morphology acquired by goat epithelial mammary cells (GMEC) on poly(Q-co-H)/NaAlg microcapsule surface after 8 h of culture.