Dear friend Victor Isaac Rodríguez Monroy

That sounds like an intriguing project! I’d be glad to help think through the synthesis of nanocapsules using chitosan as a shell for KNO3 nanoparticles. Chitosan’s biocompatibility, film-forming ability, and positive charge make it particularly suitable for encapsulating various substances, including inorganic nanoparticles like KNO3. Its ability to interact with negatively charged species and form stable matrices is especially advantageous in this context.

When considering KNO3 nanoparticles, it’s important to account for their solubility, surface charge, and potential reactivity with chitosan. Understanding how these particles behave in different environments will help in selecting the most effective encapsulation method and in predicting their interaction with the chitosan shell.

For the synthesis itself, techniques such as coacervation and emulsion cross-linking are promising. Coacervation can offer good control over capsule size and shell thickness, while emulsion cross-linking may provide better encapsulation efficiency. Each method has its own set of challenges, such as maintaining nanoparticle dispersion and achieving uniform shell formation. Factors like pH, temperature, and solvent type will also play a significant role in the stability and efficacy of the nanocapsules, so optimizing these conditions will be key. How do you plan to approach this optimization?

Finally, to confirm successful encapsulation, you might consider using techniques like TEM/SEM imaging, FTIR spectroscopy, or release studies to verify the presence and integrity of KNO3 within the chitosan shell. What criteria or tests are you considering for this evaluation?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and discussing how best to move forward with your synthesis plan.

Some papers to read are:

Chapter Synthesis Of Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles Using Similar Pro...

Article Hierarchical Ni-Mn Double Layered/Graphene Oxide with Excell...

Best regards,

Kosh

Synthesize KNO3 nanoparticles via green methods using plant extracts, then disperse them in a polymer solution like PVA. Form nanocapsules through emulsification or gamma irradiation, followed by drying to obtain stable KNO3-loaded nanocapsules.

To synthesize nanocapsules encapsulating KNO₃ (potassium nitrate) nanoparticles, a common and effective approach is the emulsion-solvent evaporation or polymer-based interfacial deposition technique. First, you have to prepare KNO₃ nanoparticles by anti-solvent precipitation or ultrasonication in aqueous phase. Separately, dissolve a biodegradable polymer like poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) or ethyl cellulose in a volatile organic solvent (e.g., dichloromethane or ethyl acetate). Disperse the aqueous KNO₃ nanoparticle suspension into the organic polymer solution to form a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion using a high-shear homogenizer (10,000–15,000 rpm). This emulsion is then added dropwise into an external aqueous phase containing a stabilizer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) under continuous stirring to form a W/O/W double emulsion. Solvent evaporation under reduced pressure or ambient conditions leads to hardening of the polymer shell around KNO₃, forming nanocapsules. The final product is collected by centrifugation and washed to remove unencapsulated salt, followed by lyophilization if solid powder is desired. Characterization by SEM/TEM, DLS, and encapsulation efficiency assays (e.g., UV or ion chromatography) confirms successful encapsulation and particle morphology.

permeability gradient method

one of techniques to form nano-capsules of polysaccharides like for example (nano-gels) is through different crosslinking

Article Hyaluronic Acid-Based pH-Sensitive Nanogel: Synthesis, Chara...

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01189?mi=6l0kix4&af=R&AllField=anticancer&target=default&targetTab=std

Article Multifunctional Plasticized Hyaluronic-Acid-Based Nanogel Dr...