| Abstract: | Carbohydrate‐modified cyclosiloxanes were synthesized by hydrosilylation reactions of protected allyl‐monosaccharides and subsequent deprotection with a gel‐type ion exchanger. They were characterized by 1H and 13C‐NMR, FT‐IR, GPC and surface tension measurements. These compounds, as well as other water soluble, carboxylate‐based siloxanes were tested as stabilizers in nanoparticle formulations, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and UDEL polysulfone (PSF) as polymer cores. Owing to their low critical micelle concentrations (cmc), small amounts of surfactants were required. The particle size and granulometric distribution were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Electron microscopy confirmed the DLS results and revealed aggregation phenomena in dry state, depending on the polymer core. In the tested conditions, the glass transition temperature of the polymer seems to be the driving force for the stability of dry nanoparticles. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
