Polyoxometalates acid treatment for preparing starch nanoparticles.

In this article, a new way of preparing starch-based nanoparticles (SNPs) with high yields by a polyoxometalates acid treatment is presented. The particle morphology, mean size and size distribution of the obtained SNPs are characterized using a dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). By changing parameters such as temperature, concentration of polyoxometalates and treating time the size of SNPs can be controlled. In addition, there are no changes in the structures of the starch granules as confirmed by IR or (1)H NMR. Freeze-dried SNPs are amorphous as characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD).