Preparation of Soluble Egg Shell Membrane Nanoparticles by Method of Precipitation with Catechin

Soluble egg shell membrane is an abundant natural proteinous resource and has great potential application as a biomaterial. In the present study, soluble egg shell membrane nanoparticles were successfully prepared for the first time by a method of precipitation with catechin. The concentrations of soluble egg shell membrane and catechin and the weight ratio of soluble egg shell membrane to catechin are the most important factors. It was found that soluble egg shell membrane nanoparticles can be produced when the weight ratio of soluble egg shell membrane to catechin is 2:1 or 1:3 and the soluble egg shell membrane and catechin concentrations are each 1 wt%, or when the weight ratio of soluble egg shell membrane to catechin is 10:1 and the concentrations of soluble egg shell membrane and catechin are 10 wt% and 1 wt%, respectively. The diameter of the nanoparticles is 5.07 nm and they have porous structure that is like that of natural egg shell membrane Similarly to natural egg shell membrane, the nanoparticles have high thermostability and high stability in water and ethanol. It was confirmed by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy that the interaction between soluble egg shell membrane and catechin is caused as a result of hydrogen bonds formed between them. Thus, these nanoparticles will be able to be used directly as filter or adsorbent materials, or made into new dressing or filter materials by being formed on the surfaces of other materials or by being blended with other materials.