Preparation of Poly(L,L-Lactide) Microparticles via Pickering Emulsions Using Chitin Nanocrystals

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate an ability of chitin nanocrystals to be used as stabilizing components for fabrication of poly(L,L-lactide) microparticles via the Pickering oil/water emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The anisometric chitin nanocrystals were extracted from two different samples of crab shell chitin via acetic hydrolysis and analyzed using atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and FTIR spectroscopy. The extracted nanocrystals showed no difference in the chemical structure but possessed different morphology and aspect ratios as a function of raw chitin used. The effect of chitin nanocrystals characteristics and concentration in the aqueous phase on the total yield, size distribution, and shape and surface morphology of the prepared polylactide microparticles was evaluated.