Towards the production of monodisperse gelatin nanoparticles by modified one step desolvation technique

Purpose The aim of the present study was to prepare gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) using modified one step desolvation method to obtain small, uniformly sized, and spherical GNPs. Methods The modifications involved the preparation of high molecular weight gelatin (HMWG) by fractionation of gelatin. HMWG was freeze-dried to be used in a specified concentration for preparation of GNPs with controllable properties. Furthermore, HMWG was cationized by dissolving it in acidified deionized water at pH value less than its isoelectric point. Factorial design analysis was utilized to investigate the effect of different preparation variables (viz. HMWG concentration, pH and ratio of HMWG solution volume to non-solvent volume) on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential and yield of GNPs. Results Results revealed the formation of monodisperse GNPs with small particle size, low PDI values (< 0.2) and high yield. FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that the conformational structure of HMWG chains was altered within GNPs matrices. Conclusion The suggested modifications introduced on the one-step desolvation method enable to prepare successfully monodispersed GNPs with narrow size distribution and high particle yield.