Synthesis of hollow and mesoporous polycaprolactone nanocapsules

Abstract

New polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocapsules with a hollow core and mesoporous shell have been synthesized. The PCL nanocapsules have an average size of about 100nm and a mesopores shell of about 20nm. The size of the mesopores on the shell is about 4nm. Fluorescent dye Rhodamin 6G was loaded into the nanocapsules to demonstrate the mesoporous structure of the capsules and their ability to load small molecules. The nanocapsules with such a structure can be used in many areas for various applications such as drug and gene delivery. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.