CONTROLLED RELEASE BY POLY-ELECTROLYTE MICROCAPSULE MEMBRANES

In the reported experiments, polyelectrolyte submicron microcapsules were prepared by interfacial crosslinking of an aqueous salt solution of poly(ethyleneimine) and a toluene solution of brominated poly-(2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide). The two solutions were brought together and mixed by sonication. As a result, a stable emulsion was obtained, which was subsequently cast into a membrane in which the microcapsules were embedded. The salt solution contained in the microcapsules could be released under controlled conditions. The rates of release were measured. They could be controlled by applying osmotic pressures, by additional quaternization of the membrane, or by modification of the structure of the capsule wall by introduction of a surfactant.