title: Strategies to control the particle size distribution of poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles for pharmaceutical applications.
abstract: In this work turbulent precipitation through solvent displacement for the production of poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles is investigated; two different PCL molecular weights have been employed, using acetone and water as solvent and anti-solvent, respectively. The main important thermodynamic and kinetic parameters, such as solubility and interfacial tension of PCL in water-acetone mixtures, are determined and the effect of the process operating conditions on the final particle size distribution is also investigated. Particles produced under different conditions into a Confined Impinging Jets Reactor (CIJR) were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta potential measurements and Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Results clearly show the strong effect of mixing on the particle size distribution and how mixing must be controlled in order to obtain a product with particular characteristics. Eventually the measured thermodynamic and kinetic parameters are used to interpret the obtained experimental data.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lince
authors.forename: Daniele L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Antonello A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barresi
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004563:Electrochemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D012997:Solvents; C016240:polycaprolactone