Nanoprecipitation and nanoformulation of polymers: from history to powerful possibilities beyond poly(lactic acid)

Abstract

Nanoprecipitation is a facile, mild, and low energy input process for the preparation of polymeric nanoparticles. Basic requirements, as well as common techniques for the self-assembly of non-charged and non-amphiphilic macromolecules into defined nanoparticles are described. At present, the primary focus of polymer nanoprecipitation research lays on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and its copolymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). This contribution thus emphasises on polymers beyond PLA systems, such as common industrial- or tailored lab-made polymers, and their ability to form well-defined, functional nanoparticles for a variety of applications now and in the past two centuries. Moreover, in combination with high-throughput devices such as microfluidics, pipetting robots, inkjet printers, and automated analytical instrumentation, the abilities of nanoprecipitation may broaden tremendously with significant effects on new applications.