Polymeric nanoparticles focus a great deal of interest because of their high specific surface and versatility. In the recent years their use is spreading from the basic research to the industry, with applications from environment to nanomedicine. Among the different existing approaches for their preparation, our group has focused to the fabrication of polymeric nanoparticles using nano-emulsions as templates. Nano-emulsions are emulsions with a droplet size typically in the range 20-200nm. Due to the small droplet size they are stable against sedimentation or creaming and their aspect is transparent to translucent [1]. Nano-emulsions are generally prepared by high-energy methods (e.g. high-shear stirring) but, in the lasts years, low-energy methods are the focus of increasing attention [2]. Low-energy emulsification methods are based on the use of the chemical energy stored in the system which is released during emulsification. These methods allow obtaining droplets with smaller size and lower polydispersity than high-energy methods. In addition, the energy input is considerably reduced. The characteristic properties of nano-emulsions (size, stability, safety), make them appropriate candidates as templates for nanoparticle fabrication [3,4]. Using this approach, different materials can be prepared depending on the final application. This presentation will focus on how the components and composition, the size, the inner-core and the surface of the nanoparticle can be tuned to obtain polymeric nanoparticles with given properties. This wide range of tunable characteristics open the door, at the same time, to a wide range of applications. In this context, biomedical applications of the systems prepared by our group (e.g. polymeric nanoparticle dispersions of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), ethyl cellulose (EC) with controlled size and stability) will be described. Furthermore, drug encapsulation and nanoparticle functionalization (with monoclonal antibodies, dendrons, etc.) to fine-tune their properties for their final target or application will be also described.

Resumen del trabajo presentado en las 44º Jornadas del CED-Annual Meeting CED, organizadas por el Comité Español de la Detergencia, Tensoactivos y Afines (CED), celebradas en Barcelona los días 12 y 13 de marzo de 2014.