Facile fabrication and property of biocompatible and biodegradable cellulose-coated PMMA composite microspheres by Pickering emulsion system

SCNWs-coated poly[methyl methacrylate] (PMMA) composite microspheres (PMMA@SCNW CMs) were fabricated by the Pickering emulsion stabilized by cellulose nanowhiskers (SCNW) combined with the solvent evaporation method. The structure and morphology of the CMs affected by the concentration of PMMA in dichloromethane solution and the volume ratio of water-to-oil were investigated and further characterized by polarized optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Finally, methyl red as model drug was loaded into CMs and exhibited fine drug-controlled release performance. This method will also be available to other polymers for preparing composite microspheres.