ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of some manufacturing methods used to produce nanoparticles with emphasis on those using biopolymers. In the scope of nanoparticles development, choosing the production method is a crucial step in order to produce a nanocarrier structurally functional and effective. Nanoencapsulation production techniques are classically divided into “top-down” and “bottom-up” approaches, wherein the particle size is respectively reduced or increased during the process of nanoparticle formation, however, a combination of both approaches is also possible. Preparation of nanocapsules by the emulsion solvent-diffusion technique allows the nanoencapsulation of both lipophilic and hydrophilic active substances and requires three phases: organic, aqueous, and dilution. Conversion of nanoparticle suspensions into a dried form has been reported and widely used in order to maintain their stability. S. H. Lee and coworkers showed that nanospray-drying approach is effective to prepare bovine serum albumin nanoparticles. Nanoprecipitation technique was used mainly for the encapsulation of lipophilic compounds.
