Unraveling the Formation of Gelatin Nanospheres by Means of Desolvation

Gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) have been widely studied for a plethora of biomedical applications, but their formation mechanism remains poorly understood, which precludes precise control over their physicochemical properties. This leads to time-consuming parameter adjustments without a fundamental grasp of the underlying mechanism. Here, we analyze and visualize in a time-resolved manner the mechanism by which GNPs are formed during desolvation of gelatin as a function of gelatin molecular weight and type of desolvating agent. Through various analytical and imaging techniques, we unveil a multistage process that is initiated by the formation of primary particles that are similar to 18 nm in diameter (wet state). These primary particles subsequently assemble into colloidally stable GNPs with a raspberry-like structure and a hydrodynamic diameter of similar to 300 nm. Our results create a basic understanding of the formation mechanism of gelatin nanoparticles, which opens new opportunities for precisely tuning their physicochemical and biofunctional properties.

Automated summary

Through time-resolved analysis and visualization, we elucidated the formation mechanism of gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs), with the ability to precisely control their physicochemical and biofunctional properties by manipulating gelatin molecular weight and type of desolvating agent.