Preparation of Rhodamine B Fluorescent Poly(methacrylic acid)‎ Coated Gelatin Nanoparticles

Abstract EN

Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)-coated gelatin nanoparticles encapsulated with fluorescent dye rhodamine B were prepared by the coacervation method with the aim to retard the release of rhodamine B from the gelatin matrix.

With sodium sulfate as coacervation reagent for gelatin, a kind of biopolymer with excellent biocompatibility, the formed gelatin nanoparticles were cross-linked by formaldehyde followed by the polymerization of methacrylic acid coating.

The fluorescent poly(methacrylic acid) coated gelatin (FPMAAG) nanoparticles had a uniform spherical shape and a size distribution of 60±5 nm.

Infrared spectral analysis confirmed the formation of PMAA coating on the gelatin nanoparticles.

Based on UV-Vis spectra, the loading efficiency of rhodamine B for the FPMAAG nanoparticles was 0.26 μg per mg nanoparticles.

The encapsulated rhodamine B could sustain for two weeks.

Favorable fluorescence property and fluorescence imaging of cells confirmed that the FPMAAG nanoparticles have promising biochemical, bioanalytical, and biomedical applications.