Synthesis and characterization of schizophyllan nanogels via inverse emulsion using biobased materials

Oxidized sucrose cross-linked Schizophyllan nanogel was successfully synthesized via inverse emulsion method for the first time. The synthesis process was conducted in the absence of both toxic cross-linker and organic solvent. The nanogel crosslinking network was prepared using fractionated coconut oil as the continuous phase and oxidized sucrose as the cross-linker. The formation of ether linkage on schizophyllan cross-linked structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR) analysis. Size and morphology were evaluated by DLS analysis and SEM. The results showed that increasing the concentration of surfactant causes the decrease in the size. By keeping surfactant amounts constant, the increase in the amount of crosslinker caused increase in the size and swelling degree. Nontoxicity of the nanogels was proved by in vitro MTT analysis. The obtained nanogels, possess special properties such as high water content, colloidal stability, bioactivity, functionality, and interior network for drug loading capacity offer great potential for the utilization of nanogels in biomedical applications.