The preparation of chitosan nanoparticles by wet media milling

Three different molecular weights of chitosan were pulverised to nanoparticles by wet media milling. The effects of the milling on properties of chitosan, such as viscosity average molecular weight (Mv), ash content, the degree of deacetylation (DD), particle size, chemical structure, colour, swelling power and apparent viscosity, were investigated. Our results showed that high (578.3 kDa), medium (181.6 kDa) and low (66.3 kDa) molecular weight chitosan with particle size of 342.7, 358.1 and 346.2 mu m were milled to nanometre range after 1, 1.5 and 2.5 h of milling, respectively. After 5 h of milling, the particle sizes of the three samples were decreased to 543.8, 366.6 and 308.4 nm, respectively. Chitosan did not show significant increase in ash contents after milling. The milling decreased the Mv of chitosan, but did not change DD and the chemical structure. The suspension of chitosan nanoparticles was of cream-white colour. The swelling powder and apparent viscosity of chitosan increased after the milling treatment.