Abstract

Split and Recombine Micromixer based Continuous Synthesis of Chitosan Nanoparticles

Ganesh Gaikwad, PhD student, Institute of Chemical Technology

Chitosan is a biodegradable and bioadhesive polysaccharide obtained by alkaline deacetylation of chitin, and second abundant polysaccharide next to cellulose. It has been widely employed in pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors owing to its unique properties such as non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The present work put forth the application of microreactor technology for synthesis of Chitosan Oligosaccharide (COS) nanoparticles in continuous mode. Split and Recombine (SAR) Micromixer has been designed and fabricated by 3D printing. A low molecular weight Chitosan, COS 20KDa was reacted with Sodium Tripolyphospate Pentabasic (TPP). Ionic gelation lead to formation of COS-TPP nanoparticles ranging from 120nm- 220nm in size by ionic gelation. Polydispersity Index (PDI) and the Zeta potential of nanoparticles has been determined. Pluronic F-68 (PF-68) was used as a surfactant leading to further decrease in the size of nanoparticles ranging from 89nm-160nm, depending on the residence time in the micromixer unit. The synthesis was examined for different residence time ranging from 3 ms to 500 ms. The strong dependency of the size of nanoparticles on the residence time have been concluded due to the reduction in the size of nanoparticles with decrease in residence time.