Oil-filled nanocapsules were synthesized using the oil droplets of an O/W microemulsion
as templates. A polysiloxane/silicate shell was formed at the surface of the oil droplet by
cross-linking n-octadecyltrimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysiloxane. The shell imparted
stability to the oil droplets against coalescence. The nanocapsules can be used in a number
of applications (i.e., biomedical or environmental) where the free concentration of lipophilic
compounds must be reduced. As a proof, the nanocapsules (1.4% w/v oil content in saline)
were shown to sequester quinoline (8 μM) from saline in <15 min. The removal process was
followed in real time using the UV absorbance of free quinoline in solution. Our primary
goal is to produce a system for drug detoxification therapy. As a proof of concept for
sequestering drugs, the nanocapsules were used in the removal of free bupivacaine from
normal saline solution. The free bupivacaine concentration was determined in the aqueous
phase after contact with such nanocapsules using HPLC. The results showed a rapid removal
of bupivacaine. The nanocapsules at a concentration of 0.1% w/v oil content showed a
maximum removal capacity of ≈1900 μM bupivacaine.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.