Electrospun Polycaprolactone–Gelatin Fibrils Enabled 3D Hydrogel Microcapsules for Biomedical Applications

This study presents a novel 3D hydrogel microcapsule platform integrating electrospun polycaprolactone–gelatin (PCL–Gel) fibrils into alginate matrices to overcome the mechanical and biological limitations of soft hydrogels. Electrospinning and cryogrinding techniques were used to generate nanofibrils, which were then electrosprayed with alginate to form hybrid APG microcapsules. The resulting microcapsules exhibited tunable size (300–900 µm), improved stability in physiological media, and enhanced porosity and bioactivity. Fibroblast viability exceeded 95%, and the constructs demonstrated superior Young’s modulus and cell proliferation compared with pure alginate hydrogels, suggesting strong potential for drug delivery and regenerative medicine.