Suspended bubble microcapsule delivery systems from droplet microfluidic technology for the local treatment of gastric cancer

Abstract

Microcapsules are promising drug carriers for disease treatment. Specifically, for drug delivery in the stomach, a key point is to enable retention of the carriers regardless of gastric emptying and peristalsis. Here, we designed novel drug-loaded bubble microcapsules, which were prepared by microfluidic technology and used for oral drug delivery. The bubble microcapsules were composed of a PLGA shell and a bubble core, which was derived from osmotic-triggered cavitation. The PLGA shell ensured efficient drug encapsulation and sustained release; the bubble core enabled retention of the microcapsules in the stomach and thus facilitated long-term treatment. Based on this, we confirmed anti-tumor effects of drug-loaded bubble microcapsules in vivo and in vitro. The drug-loaded bubble microcapsules significantly inhibited the growth and metastasis of tumors. These results suggest that the suspended bubble microcapsules can be used as an ideal drug release platform for cancer therapy. It is foreseeable that the suspension bubble microcapsules prepared by this method would have broader application prospects as oral delivery vehicles for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.