title: Surface charging and dimensions of chitosan coacervated nanoparticles.
abstract: Chitosan nanoparticles have been used in several systems destined to controlled release of active agents. In this manuscript the process of formation of chitosan nanoparticles, obtained employing the coacervation method with sodium sulfate is analyzed using zeta potential and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. Dispersions were obtained at pH=1 and pH=3 and presented a behavior, in terms of surface charging, that was independent of pH. However, SAXS results indicated a dependence of size-related behavior on pH. The difference in terms of behavior was explained through the influence of enthalpic and entropically driven components.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, Brazil.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: A L P F
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Caroni
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dantas Neto
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: J L C
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003217:Conductometry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000032:analysis / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D055672:Static Electricity; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D013431:Sulfates; C012036:sodium sulfate; D048271:Chitosan