Recent Trends in the Preparation of Nano-Starch Particles

Abstract

Starch is affected by several limitations, e.g., retro-gradation, high viscosity even at low concentrations, handling issues, poor freeze–thaw stability, low process tolerance, and gel opacity. In this context, physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods have been investigated for addressing such limitations or adding new attributes. Thus, the creation of biomaterial-based nanoparticles has sparked curiosity. Because of that, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are gaining a lot of interest in food packaging technology. This is due to their ability to increase the mechanical and water vapor resistance of the matrix, as well as hide its re-crystallization during storage in high-humidity atmospheres and enhance the mechanical properties of films when binding in paper machines and paper coating. In medicine, SNPs are suitable as carriers in the field of drug delivery for immobilized bioactive or therapeutic agents, as well as wastewater treatments as an alternative to expensive activated carbons. Starch nanoparticle preparations can be performed by hydrolysis via acid hydrolysis of the amorphous part of a starch molecule, the use of enzymes such as pullulanase or isoamylase, or a combination of two regeneration and mechanical treatments with the employment of extrusion, irradiation, ultrasound, or precipitation. The possibility of obtaining cheap and easy-to-use methods for starch and starch derivative nanoparticles is of fundamental importance. Nano-precipitation and ultra-sonication are rather simple and reliable methods for nanoparticle production. The process involves the addition of a diluted starch solution into a non-solvent, and ultra-sonication aims to reduce the size by breaking the covalent bonds in polymeric material due to intense shear forces or mechanical effects associated with the collapsing of micro-bubbles by sound waves. The current study focuses on starch nanoparticle manufacturing, characterization, and emerging applications.

Characterization of Starch Nanocrystals from Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet and Its Application as a Stabilizer in Pickering Emulsions

“…[29] The production of negative charges may be attributed to the hydroxyl groups found on the surface of the SNCs obtained from EH. [30] There was an absence of negative charges on the NS surface, as no chemical additive was utilized when isolating the starch, thus no charged chemical functionalities had formed. The amylose content of native starch utilized in this study was 20.04 ± 0.06%, which is in alignment with other studies which reported 20.68 ± 4.39% [13] and various legumes in the range of 20-23%.…”

Tuning Local Order in Starch Nanoparticles Exploiting Nonsolvency with “Green” Solvents

“…Starch, being a renewable and available biopolymer that can be sourced from agricultural and food wastes, is an optimal candidate in the formulation of advanced colloids and soft matter in multiple fields. , In particular, amorphous starch nanoparticles (SNPs) can be advantageous over starch nanocrystals, since they have faster reactivity and dynamics useful in applications such as drug-delivery, food chemistry, adhesives/consolidants, and composites . Research has focused on the formulation of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) using several methods, mainly grouped as acid hydrolysis (also coupled with enzymatic debranching), milling, gamma irradiation, electro spraying, high-pressure homogenization, ultrasonication, and nanoprecipitation in nonsolvents. , Among these, nanoprecipitation is advantageous since it does not rely on concentrated acids or high energy input and can show larger yields than enzymolysis. , However, current methodologies for the nonsolvent precipitation of amorphous SNPs are still in their infancy, and the use of different green solvents and methodologies to tune the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained particles (e.g., size, shape, and crystallinity vs amorphousness) has not yet been explored.…”

“…23,24 Among these, nanoprecipitation is advantageous since it does not rely on concentrated acids or high energy input and can show larger yields than enzymolysis. 21,25 However, current methodologies for the nonsolvent precipitation of amorphous SNPs are still in their infancy, and the use of different green solvents and methodologies to tune the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained particles (e.g., size, shape, and crystallinity vs amorphousness) has not yet been explored.…”

Physicochemical, Morphological, and Cytotoxic Properties of Brazilian Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Starch Scaffold Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles

“…They are derived from many plant sources and have varying compositions and properties that are determined by the plants’ growing circumstances, area, harvest season, and climate [ 26 ]. Commercial starches produced from wheat, corn, potato, rice, and cassava have already been extensively explored and are widely exploited in industry [ 27 ] as films [ 8 ], hydrogels [ 28 ], micro/nanoparticles [ 29 , 30 ], composites [ 31 ], and scaffolds of starches extracted from these sources. For this reason, searching for novel forms of local starch sources, especially in Brazil, would be critical, given their importance and the differences in their qualities.…”