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Encapsulation and controlled release from core–shell nanoparticles fabricated by plasma polymerization

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Abstract

Core–shell nanostructures have been synthesized by plasma deposition in radio-frequency plasma reactor. Silica and KCl nanoparticles were encapsulated by deposition of isopropanol-based films of amorphous hydrogenated carbon. Through control of the deposition time, under constant deposition rate of 1 nm/min, particles are encapsulated in a layer of plasma polymer with thickness between 15 and 100 nm. Films are robust, chemically inert, thermally stable up to 250°C. The permeability of the shells is determined by depositing films of various thickness onto KCl nanoparticles and monitoring the dissolution of the core in aqueous solution. The dissolution profile is characterized by an initial rapid release, followed by a slow release that lasts up to 30 days for the thickest films. The profile is analyzed by Fickian diffusion through a spherical matrix. We find that this model captures very accurately the entire release profile except for the first 12 hours during which, the dissolution rate is higher than that predicted by the model. The overall diffusion coefficient for the dissolution of KCl is 3 × 10−21 m2/s.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant CBET-0651283 from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Pennsylvania State University Materials Research Institute Nanofabrication Lab, and the National Science Foundation Cooperative Agreement No. 0335765, National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network, with Cornell University. The authors wish to thank Mahsa Rohani for help in operating the plasma reactor.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    Anaram Shahravan & Themis Matsoukas

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  1. Anaram Shahravan
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  2. Themis Matsoukas
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Correspondence to Themis Matsoukas.

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Shahravan, A., Matsoukas, T. Encapsulation and controlled release from core–shell nanoparticles fabricated by plasma polymerization. J Nanopart Res 14, 668 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0668-5

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