Biodegradable chitosan/alginate BSA-gel-capsules for pH-controlled loading and release of doxorubicin and treatment of pulmonary melanoma

We engineered advanced biodegradable chitosan–alginate BSA-gel-capsules and demonstrated their applicability for the treatment of lung diseases. The pH-controlled loading and release of doxorubicin (DOX) was demonstrated. After treatment with DOX-loaded chitosan–alginate BSA-gel-capsules, effective cytotoxicity against B16F10 cells in vitro and higher efficacy of the pulmonary melanoma in vivo were revealed. In particular, the real-time biodistribution of DOX from DOX-loaded capsules was investigated for the first time, indicating the metabolism of capsules from the lung. These engineered capsules present new opportunities en route to the development of polyelectrolyte microcapsules for drug delivery.