Design of nanoparticles from amphiphilic templates

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are highly promising nanocarriers for biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery and adsorbtion, due to their well-controlled size, porous structure, and tunable surface properties. This study investigates two distinct synthesis approaches: (i) a sustainable, low-temperature aqueous sol-gel method for producing SiNPs in the 500–700 nm range, and (ii) a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion technique that employs surfactants and co-surfactants to precisely regulate nanoparticle formation. The study emphasizes the significant influence of surfactant selection—comparing cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and non-ionic Triton X-100 (TX-100)—on SiNP size, stability, and dispersity, thereby offering a highly tunable strategy for nanoparticle morphology control. Comprehensive characterization using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence (PL) confirmed the successful synthesis and structural properties of SiNPs. The TX-100-mediated microemulsion method proved particularly effective in achieving highly stable, reproducible, and monodisperse SiNPs, with a size limit of approximately 100 nm, making them ideal candidates for drug encapsulation. The successful incorporation of procaine (PRC) into TX-100-derived SiNPs further highlights the crucial role of surfactant-stabilized interfaces in modulating the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), thereby enhancing drug loading efficiency. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of reverse micelle dynamics in nanoparticle synthesis, providing a robust framework for further optimization of SiNP-based drug carriers with improved stability and bioavailability. Overall, this work highlights the critical role of surfactant and medium selection in SiNPs synthesis, demonstrating their impact on nanoparticle stability, dispersity, and drug loading efficiency. The TX-100-mediated microemulsion technique emerges as a superior approach for producing stable, monodisperse SiNPs, advancing the design of nanocarriers for procaine drug delivery applications as well using this SiNPs in adsorption of dyes to minimize a water pollution