Preparation of polysaccharide-coated nanoparticles by emulsion polymerization of styrene

It is the aim of this paper to describe the preparation of polysaccharide-coated nanoparticles by direct emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of native dextran. In spite of the lack of surface-active properties of native dextran, stable latexes with very low amount of coagulate were obtained. Particle size decreased with dextran concentration and molecular weight. The amount of permanently adsorbed dextran was determined by direct titration of the polysaccharide present on the surface of the nanoparticles. A maximum value of 2.5 mg m⁻² was found. Zeta-potential measurements allowed us to estimate the thickness of the hydrophilic layer, which regularly increased with dextran aqueous concentration. The dextran-coated polystyrene nanoparticles were stable in concentrated NaCl solutions and could be redispersed after freeze-drying. The mechanism of chemical modification of dextran was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight spectrometry studies. Graft copolymers are supposed to be formed.