Stabilization of Nanoparticles Synthesized by Miniemulsion Polymerization Using Green Amino-Acid Based Surfactants

In this study biocompatible amino-acid based surfactants were used for the stabilization of polystyrene (PS), poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and polyphosphate (PP) nanoparticles (NPs). The formation of the nanoparticles was achieved either by radical polymerization in miniemulsion for polystyrene nanoparticles or by using a combination of solvent evaporation and miniemulsion approach for poly(L-lactide) or polyphosphate nanoparticles. The influence of the three different amino-acid based surfactants, which were used with different amounts, on the NPs' stability, size, size distribution, zeta potential, morphology and surface tension is discussed. Cell experiments with HeLa cells were performed for the determination of the toxicity. For comparison, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) stabilized NPs were synthesized, and all results obtained from the amino-acid based surfactant stabilized NPs were compared and discussed with the SDS stabilized NPs.