Synthesis, characterization and application of gelatin-g-polyacrylonitrile and its nanoparticles

Gelatin-g-PAN nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through multisteps preparation. First, polyacrylonitrile with chloride end function was prepared using single electron transfer-living radical polymerization technique. The prepared PAN-Cl was characterized using FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and viscosity measurements. Second, the prepared PAN-Cl was grafted onto gelatin. The grafted copolymers were characterized using FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and its solubility was examined in different solvents. The grafted copolymer Gel-g-PAN prepared showed high thermal stability as compared with native gelatin. Third, nanoparticles formation was done using nanoprecipitation technique and the prepared nanoparticles were confirmed using transmission electron microscope. Some applications were made onto the fabricated nanoparticles as encapsulation of hydrophobic model, metal ions adsorptions and dyes uptake. Nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency of hydrophobic model. Nanoparticles based on Gel-g-PAN had high ability to absorb transition metal ions than unmodified gelatin and showed high adsorption of basic dyes than acidic dyes.