Thiolated chitosan coated poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate nanoparticles: Synthesis and characterization

The purpose of the present study was to prepare and characterize poly hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) nanoparticles coated by thiolated chitosan (chitosan–glutathione conjugate), using radical polymerization method and cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate as initiator. The effects of different parameters such as molecular weight of thiolated chitosan, concentration of initiator and monomer on physicochemical properties of nanoparticles were studied. FT-IR, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and zeta potential determination were used for characterization of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were spherical with a size range of 150–750 nm. The size of nanoparticles reduced when the concentration of initiator was increased, while the concentration of monomer influenced directly the size of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles carried positive charge and a clear layer surrounded the poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) core of nanoparticles observed using TEM confirms the presence of thiolated chitosan as the coating layer.