Trapping of chemical carcinogens with magnetic polyethyleneimine microcapsules: II. Effect of membrane and reactant structures.

Effects of the membrane structure and reactant type on the trapping of carcinogens and other reactive species by semipermeable magnetic polyethyleneimine (PEI) microcapsules are investigated. A series of these microcapsules with poly(hexamethyleneterephthalamide) membranes was prepared by interfacial polymerization with an 8-fold variation of hexamethylenediamine concentration in the aqueous emulsion phase. Although little change was found in the encapsulation of PEI (within the microcapsule core) and magnetite, the microcapsule membrane showed a 6-fold alteration in regard to mass and associated PEI. All the microcapsule types tested were capable of trapping N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and fluorescein isothiocyanate as covalent-binding probes, and eosin and tetrasodium copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonic acid (CPTS) as ionic-binding probes. Very rapid penetration and reaction of eosin and CPTS with the membranes was demonstrated, with apparent saturation of membrane binding affecting the overall trapping. Differences in the site and quantity of binding were ascribed to the following factors: the core:membrane distribution of incorporated PEI; the probe molecular weight; the reaction or adsorption of the probes with the microcapsule membrane; the probe stability in aqueous solution; and the amount of probe used. These probes represent the chemical-physical features of many known carcinogens or metabolites; together with previous data, these results indicate the potential usefulness of this type of microcapsule for trapping carcinogens (and their metabolites) as covalently or ionically bound products.