Synthesis of nanoparticles composed of a poly(methylmethacrylate-co-laurylmethacrylate) core and a polysiloxane shell as vehicles for limonene

In this study, hybrid nanoparticles composed of poly(methylmethacrylate-co-laurylmethacrylate) (PMMA-co-LMA) and poly(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) (PMS) obtained via seeded emulsion polymerisation were synthesised. A series of copolymers of LMA and MMA was obtained via emulsion polymerisation in the presence of β-cyclodextrin as a phase transport catalyst. The resulting spherical particles of approximately 50 nm were used as seeds for MPS polymerisation, resulting in spherical core-shell particles. These materials were evaluated as vehicles for limonene. Initially, it was observed that the extent of particle swelling by limonene was enhanced at the highest fractions of LMA. The same trend was obtained when the loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were determined. Although when the core contained PLMA only, the particles exhibited the highest encapsulation capacity, these nanoparticles presented the poorest control on the release of limonene. The cytotoxicity evaluation of the core-shell nanoparticles revealed that they are slightly cytotoxic with cell viabilities higher than 70% at all the concentrations. Our results indicated that core-shell nanoparticles containing a core composed of P(MMA-co-LMA) and a siloxane shell were promising vehicles for nonpolar and volatile compounds, such as limonene, and they showed potential for applications in various fields, such as pest control, food and pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted] •Latex particles were prepared by emulsion polymerisation of laurylmethacrylate and methyl methacrylate.•Seed emulsion polymerisation used to obtain core-shell nanoparticles composed of a hydrophobic core and a polysiloxane shell.•The swelling of core-shell nanoparticles by limonene was monitored by dynamic light scattering.•The core-shell nanoparticles provided limonene a control release along 48 h.