Development and characterization of nanocapsules comprising dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and κ-carrageenan

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces Vol. 86; no. 1; pp. 242 - 246
• Main Authors: Rosas-Durazo, A., Lizardi, J., Higuera-Ciapara, I., Argüelles-Monal, W., Goycoolea, F.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Carrageenan; Carrageenan - chemistry; carrageenans; cationic surfactants; colloids; Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride; drugs; emulsifying; kappa carrageenan; Nanocapsules; Nanocapsules - chemistry; nanoemulsions; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - chemistry; surfactants; zeta potential; Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride; Nanocapsules; Carrageenan
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2011.03.020

A model proposed to describe the interaction between κ-carrageenan and DTAC-stabilized nanoemulsion; it explains the influence of the polyelectrolyte attached at the nanocapsule's surface on the physical properties. [Display omitted] ► We succeeded to develop new prototype of nanocapsules based on the electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged κ-carrageenan polyelectrolyte with the surface of DTAC-stabilized nanoemulsion. ► The interaction is extremely effective as even at Z values of ∼0.0045 ( Z = [SO 3 −]/[(CH 3) 3N +]), the surface of the nanocapsules becomes almost completely neutralized. ► The potential application of this new type of nanocapsules in drug delivery seems promising. The aim of this work was to develop and characterize a new type of nanocapsules. To this end, a nanoemulsion bearing an oily core (Miglyol 812) was obtained by spontaneous emulsification and stabilized by dodecyl-trimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), a commercial cationic surfactant; this nanoemulsion was coated with proportionally very small amounts of κ-carrageenan (at molar charge ratios of Z ≤ 0.0045) that interact predominantly by an electrostatic mechanism with the positively charged sites at the polar heads of DTAC at the nanoemulsion's surface to harness nanocapsules of average size ∼250–330 nm and zeta potential ( ζ) ranging from ∼+80 to +7 mV. The potential application of the new type of developed nanosystems as drug delivery vehicles has yet to be investigated and fully realized.