Using different structure types of microemulsions for the preparation of poly(alkylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles by interfacial polymerization

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

A phase diagram of the pseudoternary system ethyloleate, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan mono-oleate/sorbitan monolaurate and water with butanol as a cosurfactant was prepared. Areas containing optically isotropic, low viscosity one-phase systems were identified and systems therein designated as w/o droplet-, bicontinuous- or solution-type microemulsions using conductivity, viscosity, cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy and self-diffusion NMR. Nanoparticles were prepared by interfacial polymerization of selected w/o droplet, bicontinuous- or solution-type microemulsions with ethyl-2- cyanoacrylate. Morphology of the particles and entrapment of the water-soluble model protein ovalbumin were investigated. Addition of monomer to the different types of microemulsions (w/o droplet, bicontinuous, solution) led to the formation of nanoparticles, which were similar in size (∼ 250 nm), polydispersity index (∼ 0.13), zeta-potential (∼- 17 mV) and morphology. The entrapment of the protein within these particles was up to 95%, depending on the amount of monomer used for polymerization and the type of microemulsion used as a polymerization template. The formation of particles with similar characteristics from templates having different microstructure is surprising, particularly considering that polymerization is expected to occur at the water-oil interface by base-catalysed polymerization. Dynamics within the template (stirring, viscosity) or indeed interfacial phenomena relating to the solid-liquid interface appear to be more important for the determination of nanoparticle morphology and characteristics than the microstructure of the template system.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Controlled Release
Volume106
Issue number1-2
Pages (from-to)76-87
Number of pages12
ISSN0168-3659
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Aug 2005

    Research areas

  • Alkylcyanoacrylate, Microemulsions, Nanoparticles, Protein

ID: 299427992