Use of microreactors and freeze-drying in the manufacturing process of chitosan coated PCL nanoparticles.

This paper is focused on the synthesis of chitosan-coated polycaprolactone nanoparticles in microreactors and on the freeze-drying of the nanosuspension, to separate the particles from the liquid phase. Nanoparticles were produced in the confined impinging jets mixer (CIJM) and in the multi-inlet vortex mixer (MIVM), using the solvent displacement method, with acetone or tert-butanol (TBA) as polymer solvent. The study was initially carried out considering a feed flow rate of 80 ml min: using acetone, the mean particle size was lower (163 ± 7 nm) and the Zeta potential was higher (31.

On the Production of Chitosan-Coated Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles in a Confined Impinging Jet Reactor.

This work is focused on the synthesis of polycaprolactone nanoparticles, coated with chitosan, in a confined impinging jet reactor using the solvent displacement method. The role of the various reacting species was investigated, evidencing that a biocompatible polymer, for example, polycaprolactone, is required to support chitosan to obtain a monomodal particle size distribution, with low particle diameters. A surfactant is required to reduce the nanoparticle size (down to a mean diameter of about 260 nm) and obtain a positive zeta potential (about +31 mV), perfectly suitable for pharmaceutical applications.

Cotton fabric functionalisation with menthol/PCL micro- and nano-capsules for comfort improvement.

Objective: Cotton functionalisation with poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) micro- and nano-capsules containing menthol was carried out with the aim of introducing a long-lasting refreshing sensation.

Materials And Methods: The preparation of the polymer micro- and nano-capsules was carried out by solvent displacement technique. A confined impinging jets mixer was used in order to ensure fast mixing and generate a homogeneous environment where PCL and menthol can self-assemble.

On the use of tert-butanol/water cosolvent systems in production and freeze-drying of poly-ε-caprolactone nanoparticles.

This work deals with the use of a water/tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) system in the manufacturing process of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles, namely in the synthesis stage, using the solvent displacement method in a confined impinging jet mixer (CIJM), and in the following freeze-drying stage. The experimental investigation evidenced that the nanoparticles size is significantly reduced with respect to the case where acetone is the solvent. Besides, the solvent evaporation step is not required before freeze-drying as TBA is fully compatible with the freeze-drying process.

Size control in production and freeze-drying of poly-ε-caprolactone nanoparticles.

This work is focused on the control of poly-ε-caprolactone nanoparticle characteristics, notably size and size distribution, in both the production and preservation (by using freeze-drying) stages. Nanoparticles were obtained by employing the solvent displacement method in a confined impinging jets mixer. The effect of several operating conditions, namely, initial polymer concentration and solvent-to-antisolvent flow rate ratio, and the influence of postprocessing conditions, such as final dilution and solvent evaporation, on nanoparticle characteristics was investigated.