Fast and scalable preparation of starch nanoparticles by stirred media milling

• Faster preparation of starch nanoparticles was achieved by stirred media milling.
• Effects of milling time and solids concentration on particle size were evaluated.
• Starch nanosuspension was effectively stabilized without chemical stabilizer.
• Morphology and structural properties of starch nanoparticles were investigated.

A study on the preparation of starch nanoparticles (SNPs) by stirred media milling was conducted in the present work. The effects of milling time and solids concentration on the particle size were investigated. It was found that the particle size of native starch was reduced from 3–20 μm to around 245 nm in 90 min by stirred media milling. The stability analysis of SNPs carried out by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique revealed good stability over a period of one week. The morphology of prepared starch nanoparticles was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The structural changes on SNPs were investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The stirred media milling was found to produce SNPs effectively without the use of any surfactants or additives. The effective, low cost, and easily scalable physical method for the production of starch nanoparticles was presented.

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