Drug-loaded microparticles prepared by the one-step deposition of calcium carbonate/alginate onto cotton fabrics

Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 )/alginate inorganic–organic hybrid particles were synthesized and deposited on to the surface of cotton fabrics with a novel one-step procedure. The effects of the Ca 2+ /CO 3 2− /alginate molar ratio on the cotton matrix were investigated. The optimization of the process resulted in a regular shaped hybrid microparticles, and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the particles were uniformly distributed on the surface of the fibers. Dynamic light scattering showed that the particles were about 2 μm in diameter. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated that the core–shell structure of the particles existed along with CaCO 3 evenly enfolded into the alginate layer. An X-ray diffraction pattern displayed that the alginate/CaCO 3 hybrid microparticles were a mixture of calcite and vaterite crystal. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that CaCO 3 /alginate hybrid particles formed in situ were the only deposited materials. The thermogravimetric analysis curve indicated a certain mass ratio of the alginate and CaCO 3 in the hybrid particles. Furthermore, the drug-loading and drug-release properties of the hybrid microspheres were studied, and the results show that the water-soluble diclofenac sodium could be effectively loaded in the hybrid microparticles and the drug release could be effectively sustained. Finally, both of the microparticles and modified fabrics had good cytocompatibility. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132 , 42618.