Dextran Nanoparticles Cross‐Linked in Aqueous and Aqueous/Alcoholic Media

• Published in: Macromolecular chemistry and physics Vol. 218; no. 10
• Main Authors: Iakobson, Olga D., Dobrodumov, Anatoly V., Saprykina, Natalia N., Shevchenko, Natalia N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-05-2017
• Subjects: association; Biocompatibility; Chemical synthesis; cross‐linking; dextran; Nanoparticles; NMR spectroscopy; Photon correlation spectroscopy; Size distribution; Surfactants
• ISSN: 1022-1352; 1521-3935
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201600523

The attractiveness of the dextran nanoparticle application in medicine and pharmacology results from biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nontoxicity of the polymer. However, it still remains a challenge to prepare such nanoparticles in an aqueous medium due to dextran hydrophilicity. Here, the technique of dextran nanoparticle synthesis with the average diameter of 140–450 nm in aqueous and aqueous/ethanolic media is described. The chemical structure of cross‐linker used for the dextran nanoparticle stabilization is demonstrated to influence the dextran nanoparticle diameter, size distribution, and ζ‐potential. As shown the regulation of the nanoparticle diameter and ζ‐potential is possible through the surfactants and/or dextran nonsolvent (ethanol) addition into the reaction medium. Due to the additional steric stabilization, the dextran nanoparticles of minimum diameter are formed in the presence of ionic surfactants in the aqueous/ethanolic medium. The nanoparticle shape and diameter are analyzed by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy; the composition is investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
To obtain the dextran nanoparticles with the diameter ranged within 140–450 nm the technique with no prior dextran modification, application of toxic solvents or oils is developed. The diameter, size distribution, and electrical surface properties of the nanoparticles prepared in aqueous and aqueous/ethanolic media can be controlled by the cross‐linker chemical structure, cross‐linking time, and the addition of surfactants or nonsolvent.