Adsorption of chitosan onto starch/citrate nanoparticles

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of starch and starch citrate nanoparticles, followed by the adsorption of chitosan molecules onto their surfaces. Native maize starch was chemically modified via esterification with citric acid to produce starch citrate. Nanoparticles of native and esterified starch were subsequently prepared using an enzymatic hydrolysis method. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and zeta potential analysis to evaluate their morphology, crystallinity, functional groups, and surface charge, respectively. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between chitosan and the synthesized nanoparticles. The adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir and the Freundlich isotherm models to elucidate the adsorption mechanism and capacity. The findings demonstrate that esterification and nanoparticle formation have a significant influence on the surface properties and adsorption behavior of starch-based materials, offering potential for applications in biopolymer-based delivery systems.