title: Fabrication of size-controlled starch-based nanospheres by nanoprecipitation.
abstract: Nanometric and monodisperse starch acetate nanospheres can be prepared through a simple procedure of nanoprecipitation, by the dropwise addition of water to an acetone solution of starch acetate, without any stabilizing agent. This is the first report of the preparation of starch-based nanospheres by this method. The size of the nanospheres obtained can be easily controlled by a number of simple and efficient modifications, i.e., through regulation of the polymer concentration in acetone, the proportions of the water and organic phases, and the molecular weight and degree of substitution of the starch esters. A number of reasons are suggested to explain the observed transitions in the particle size. Fluorescence spectroscopic studies proved that these types of nanospheres could be potentially used for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Linglu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Pixin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D005590:Fractional Precipitation / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D013213:Starch