FITC-Alginate

Application of FITC-Alginate in the Characterization of Multilayer Microcapsule Structures^[1]
This protocol is adapted from research data and provided for reference only. Adjustments may be necessary based on specific experimental requirements.
1. Synthesis of Multilayer Microcapsules: FITC-Alginate is mixed with plain sodium alginate at a ratio of 1:100 to prepare multilayer microcapsules with a liquid core. Observation under a fluorescence microscope reveals that the green fluorescence emitted by FITC-Alginate clearly differentiates and locates the spatial position of the alginate gel layer within the microcapsules. 
2. Application in Degradation Studies: When the aforementioned multilayer microcapsules are placed in a chelating agent solution (e.g., EDTA or sodium citrate), the alginate shell degrades as Ca²⁺ ions are chelated. Under the fluorescence microscope, the green fluorescence (from the degraded alginate chains) can be observed transferring from the shell and dispersing into the liquid core, visually demonstrating the fate of the shell material.
Precautions:
(1) For your safety and health, please wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.

References:
[1] Ahn SH, Rath M, Tsao CY, et al. Single-Step Synthesis of Alginate Microgels Enveloped with a Covalent Polymeric Shell: A Simple Way to Protect Encapsulated Cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Apr 28;13(16):18432-18442.