Effect of different surface active polysaccharide derivatives on the formation of ethyl cellulose particles by the emulsion-solvent evaporation method

This paper aims at a better understanding of the systematic production of the ethyl cellulose (EC) particles by using an emulsification-solvent evaporation method in the presence of different polysaccharide derivatives. In particular, the role of different surface active polymers i.e. one ionic—carboxymethyl cellulose, one nonionic—hydroxyethyl cellulose, and two amphiphilic—high molecular weight methyl cellulose and low molecular weight methyl cellulose on EC particle formation was investigated. We have established how individual surface active polysaccharides with varying concentration from 0.1 to 3.0 wt% affect particle size and its distribution, particle shape, surface charge, and particle surface morphology. The interdependencies between surfactant nature and concentration at constant processing parameters and the subsequent nano- to micro-particle characteristics are discussed. It was determined that the particle size, surface morphology, supramolecular structure and surface properties of EC particles, prepared by an emulsion evaporation method can be effectively controlled by the type and concentration of used polysaccharide surfactant yielding spherical particles sizes from 170 nm to the micrometer level with smooth particle surfaces or remarkably a wrinkled surface morphology or “particle on particle” structures.