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Aiming to explore elevated temperatures as a tool for miniaturization of biodegradable polymer multilayer capsules, assembled on spherical vaterite micron- and submicron-sized particles, we subject the shells composed of dextran sulfate (DS) and poly-L-arginine (Parg) to a heat treatment. Changes of the capsule size are studied at various temperatures and ionic strengths of the continuous phase. Unlike some synthetic polymer multilayer shells (their response to heat treatment depends on the number of layers and their arrangement), the biodegradable Parg/DS capsules exhibit size reduction and profound compaction regardless of their initial size, number of polymer layers and polymer layer sequence. The capsule response to heat is stable at ionic strengths of the continuous phase not exceeding 0.1 M NaCl., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Among the polymorph modifications of calcium carbonate, the metastable vaterite is the most practically important. Vaterite particles are applied in regenerative medicine, drug delivery and a broad range of personal care products. This manuscript scopes to review the mechanism of the calcium carbonate crystal growth highlighting the factors stabilizing the vaterite polymorph in the most cost efficient synthesis routine. The size of vaterite particles is a crucial parameter for practical applications. The options for tuning the particle size are also discussed., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)