Design of artificial red blood cells using polymeric hydrogel microcapsules: hydrogel stability improvement and polymer selection.

Purpose: To improve the stability of pectin-oligochitosan hydrogel microcapsules under physiological conditions.

Methods: Two different approaches were examined: change of the cross-linker length and treatment of the hydrogel microcapsules with 150 Mm CaCl2. Replacement of pectin with alginate was also studied.