Functional Hybrid Glyconanocapsules by a One-Pot Nanoprecipitation Process

Abstract

Herein, we report on one-pot fabrication of oil-filled nanocapsules wrapped with both RAFT-made glycopolymers and neutral polysaccharides (dextran and pullulan). We have made use of the nanoprecipitation technique, relying on coprecipitation of both oil and polymers in conditions thoroughly established from phase diagrams' interpretation. Mixed mono-or multi-layered nanocapsules were obtained through simultaneous or sequential nanoprecipitation, respectively. Incorporation of synthetic glycopolymer chains allows for precisely tailoring the dimensions of the nanocapsules (size and membrane thickness of the polymeric shell), whereas the insertion of polysaccharides enables to tune the (bio)degradability of the nanocapsules. Shell-functionalized and/or core-loaded capsules could also be achieved in a similar one pot process, by introducing a drug and/or biotin in the organic and aqueous phase, respectively. We finally report magnet-sensitive capsules.

Polysaccharide nanoparticles: from fabrication to applications

“…[186][187][188] A nanoprecipitation avenue was utilised by Ganachaud and coworkers to form core-shell particles. 189 A polysaccharide (PL or DEX) was combined with a glycopolymer, i.e. poly(N-[7-(a-Dmannopyranosyloxy)heptyl]methacrylamide-co-glycidyl methacrylate), and mygliol.…”

Precision Polymer Particles by Flash Nanoprecipitation and Microfluidic Droplet Extraction

“…Ostwald ripening occurs over much longer time scales (>seconds) leading to stable dispersions (for molecular solutes). This approach has been used for surfactant free microemulsion polymerization to generate polymer NPs, as well as generating stable NP suspensions from polymeric precursors and has also been referred to as “solvent shifting”, “solvent displacement” or “nanoprecipitation”. ,− Significantly, quiescent nanoprecipitation has been exploited to generate NPs from semiconducting polymers for applications in photovoltaics, comprehensively reviewed in ref . Nanoprecipitation can also be performed under continuous flow using an analogous setup to dialysis, or with flow-focusing microfluidics, and shown to yield narrower size-distributions and more regular particle shapes than dropwise, nonsolvent addition.…”

“…Slow mixing contrasts with the homogeneity imparted by high energy dissipation in CIJ/MIVM mixers leading to quasi-simultaneous nucleation of NPs from collapsed chains. We expect that controlled mixing can help examine questions germane to ternary solute/solvent/nonsolvent thermodynamics and the Ouzo boundary and decouple equilibrium and nonequilibrium aspects that do not appear to be fully understood; in turn, could these elucidate why quiescent (or “slow”) mixing can yield narrow size distribution nanoparticles under precise thermodynamic conditions and polydisperse in its immediate vicinity, as demonstrated by the size and size distribution control via the Ouzo effect? − , …”

Polymer Colloids: Synthesis Fundamentals to Applications

“…Articles on the synthesis using emulsion polymerization were presented from latex stabilization, hybrid nanocapsules by nanoprecipitation, and vesicle formation . RAFT microwave assisted emulsion polymerization was used to produce novel biobased terpenoid acrylates, while the self-assembly of MacroRAFT agents were studied using solvachromatic dyes .…”

“…This special issue of "Polymer Colloids: Synthesis Fundamentals to Applications" starts with comprehensive reviews for the nonexpert on the various synthetic pathways to produce and control the size, composition, and morphology of polymer colloids. 1−3 Articles on the synthesis using emulsion polymerization were presented from latex stabilization, 4 hybrid nanocapsules by nanoprecipitation, 5 and vesicle formation. 6 RAFT microwave assisted emulsion polymerization was used to produce novel biobased terpenoid acrylates, 7 while the self-assembly of MacroRAFT agents were studied using solvachromatic dyes.…”