Polymer Nanoparticles: Preparation Methods and Structural Characterization

Polymer Nanoparticles: Preparation Methods and Structural Characterization | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Polymer Nanoparticles: Preparation Methods and Structural Characterization Jakhongir Khakkulov This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7913532/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The synthesis of functional nanoscale particles and their composites is of increasing interest for biomedical and materials science applications. Silk fibroin, a biocompatible and surface-active polymer, offers tunable properties for such purposes. Silk fibroin micro- and nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrolysis at an alkaline modulus of 1:6, temperatures of 180°C, and durations of 120–150 min. Particle morphology, size distribution, and crystallinity were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The particles obtained were white, odorless, ultra-spherical fine powders, almost insoluble in water, with a bulk density of 650–750 kg/m³. At 120 min, size distribution was 70.6% at 16.54 nm and 29.4% at 240 µm. At 150 min, it shifted to 96.5% at 82.07 nm and 3.5% at 100 µm. AFM revealed morphological changes from needle-like to spherical shapes with prolonged hydrolysis, while XRD indicated increased crystallinity with reaction time, though excessive acid concentration reduced order. Hydrolysis time strongly affects silk fibroin nanoparticle size distribution and morphology. The optimized conditions-180°C for 150 min at 1:6 alkaline modulus-yield predominantly spherical nanoparticles with controlled crystallinity. These findings provide a basis for tailoring fibroin-based materials for targeted applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine. Polymer Science silk fibroin nanoparticles hydrolysis dynamic light scattering (DLS) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) X-ray diffraction (XRD) particle size distribution bio compatible materials Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7913532","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":532795905,"identity":"82dbf1d3-0417-481c-a630-47f80a45a982","order_by":0,"name":"Jakhongir 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Characterization\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"National University of Uzbekistan","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"silk fibroin, nanoparticles, hydrolysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution, bio compatible materials","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7913532/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7913532/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe synthesis of functional nanoscale particles and their composites is of increasing interest for biomedical and materials science applications. Silk fibroin, a biocompatible and surface-active polymer, offers tunable properties for such purposes. Silk fibroin micro- and nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrolysis at an alkaline modulus of 1:6, temperatures of 180\u0026deg;C, and durations of 120\u0026ndash;150 min. Particle morphology, size distribution, and crystallinity were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The particles obtained were white, odorless, ultra-spherical fine powders, almost insoluble in water, with a bulk density of 650\u0026ndash;750 kg/m\u0026sup3;. At 120 min, size distribution was 70.6% at 16.54 nm and 29.4% at 240 \u0026micro;m. At 150 min, it shifted to 96.5% at 82.07 nm and 3.5% at 100 \u0026micro;m. AFM revealed morphological changes from needle-like to spherical shapes with prolonged hydrolysis, while XRD indicated increased crystallinity with reaction time, though excessive acid concentration reduced order. Hydrolysis time strongly affects silk fibroin nanoparticle size distribution and morphology. The optimized conditions-180\u0026deg;C for 150 min at 1:6 alkaline modulus-yield predominantly spherical nanoparticles with controlled crystallinity. These findings provide a basis for tailoring fibroin-based materials for targeted applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Polymer Nanoparticles: Preparation Methods and Structural Characterization","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-22 07:15:53","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7913532/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"0412c5e8-4e18-4031-99ba-b5382b3133ad","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 22nd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":56681280,"name":"Polymer Science"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-22T07:15:53+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-22 07:15:53","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7913532","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7913532","identity":"rs-7913532","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}