Preparation of bio-polymeric nanoparticles by electrostatic field system

Abstract

This Letter describes a new method to prepare collagen, gelatin, chitosan and hyaluronic acid nanoparticles by using an electrostatic field system (EFS) in aqueous phase. Observations from transmission electron microscopy shows that good spherical shape and well dispersed collagen, gelatin, chitosan and hyaluronan nanoparticles ranging from about 4–200 nm in diameter could be produced under certain experimental settings, including the usage of various cross-linking reagents. In short, the lower temperature setting about 4°C is needed when preparing collagen I nanoparticles; however, a higher temperature setting about 17°C and a higher concentration of collagen II at 0.2 mg/ml is needed to prepare collagen II nanoparticles. Gelatin nanoparticles could be produced under a longer treatment period at 5 h; however, the gelatin nanoparticles aggregates together yielding a larger cluster at a longer 5 h treatment period. Chitosan and hyaluronan nanoparticles could only be produced under low concentrations of cross-linking reagents treatment. Working ranges of the important parameters for the production of bio-polymeric nanoparticles beyond the traditional technique have been defined. EFS technology provides a simple yet powerful technique for fabricating bio-polymeric nanoparticles. In fact, these nanoparticles are used as ingredients, scaffolds or carriers in the chondrocytes, hepatocytes and stem cells differentiation applications all show promising and encouraging results.