Avicenna J Med Biotech arij002 Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology 2008-2835 2008-4625 Avicenna Research Institute ajmb279 Evaluation of Factors Affecting Size and Size Distribution of Chitosan-Electrosprayed Nanoparticles AbyadehMortezaPsychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, South Kargar Street, Tehran, IranKarimi ZarchiAli AkbarFaramarziMohammad AliMonoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, IranDepartment of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranAmaniAmirDepartment of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 9 3 126 132 20 7 2016 10 10 2016

<p>Background: Size and size distribution of polymeric nanoparticles have important effect on their properties for pharmaceutical application. In this study, Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by electrospray method (electrohydrodynamic atomization) and parameters that simultaneously affect size and/or size distribution of chitosan nanoparticles were optimized.<br /> Methods: Effect of formulation/processing three independent formulation/processing parameters, namely concentration, flow rate and applied voltage was investigated on particle size and size distribution of generated nanoparticles using a Box&ndash;Behnken experimental design.<br /> Results: All the studied factors showed important effects on average size and size dis-tribution of nanoparticles. A decrease in size and size distribution was obtainable with decreasing flow rate and concentration and increasing applied voltage. Eventually, a sample with minimum size and polydispersity was obtained with polymer concentration, flow rate and applied voltage values of 0.5 %w/v, 0.05 <em>ml/hr</em> and 15 <em>kV</em>, respectively. The experimentally prepared nanoparticles, expected having lowest size and size distribution values had a size of 105 <em>nm</em>, size distribution of 36 and Zeta potential of 59.3 <em>mV</em>.<br /> Conclusion: Results showed that optimum condition for production of chitosan nano-particles with the minimum size and narrow size distribution was a minimum value for flow rate and highest value for applied voltage along with an optimum chitosan concentration.</p>