Tuning the size of gelatin nanoparticles produced by nanoprecipitation

The aim of the study was to control the size of gelatin nanoparticles under varied conditions of nanoprecipitation. The gelatin concentration in the solvent phase and different combination of nonsolvents was used to see influence on the size, polydispersity and recovery yield of produced nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticles was determined by dynamic light scattering. The yield of gelatin nanoparticles after freezedrying was found gravimetrically. The morphology of nanoparticles was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results suggest that the size of nanoparticles can be tuned within a range 250-350 nm with low polydispersity index because of the inhibition of particle aggregation during crosslinking. The produced nanoparticles are of spherical shape with a smooth surface. We found that the recovery yield was also dependent on the gelatin concentration in the solvent phase.