OICC Press International Journal of Industrial Chemistry 2228-5547 14 2 2023 10 15 Process optimization of corn starch nanoparticles containing linalyl acetate: characterization and antibacterial properties 10.57647/j.ijic.2023.1402.04 EN Milad Gholami Department of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran Morteza Hosseini Department of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran Mohammad Hassan Shahavi Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Engineering Modern Technologies, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies (AUSMT), Amol, Iran Mohsen Jahanshahi Department of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran Journal Article 2023 10 15 In this research, the Taguchi approach optimized the preparation process of corn starch nanoparticles containing linalyl acetate (extracted from lavender). Sodium hydroxide and urea (solvent), ethanol (anti-solvent), and Tween 80 (surfactant) were employed for the synthesis in the nanoprecipitation method. The dimensions of the synthesized nanoparticles were measured by the dynamic light scattering method. The surface morphology of the nanoparticles was determined by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the concentration of starch (2% w/w) and linalyl acetate (1.5% w/w), temperature (55° C), and the starch to the antisolvent ratio (1:15) had a significant effect on the size of the corn starch nanoparticle with the linalyl acetate. The predicted values for mean size, PDI, and zeta potential were 56.37 nm, 0.388, and -19.4 mV, respectively. Accordingly, the experimental values for mean size, PDI, and zeta potential were 59.7 nm, 0.395, and -22.7 mV, respectively. The size of the nanoparticles was 59.7 nm with a spherical shape under the optimum conditions. The optimal formula of nanoparticles’ antibacterial properties against a gram-negative bacterial strain (Escherichia coli) and a gram-positive bacterial strain (Staphylococcus aureus) was evaluated. The maximum diameter of the inhibition zone determined by disk diffusion and well diffusion methods was 21 and 23 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and 16 and 18 mm for Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were observed at 12.5 mg/ml for Escherichia coli and 6.25 mg/ml for Staphylococcus aureus, which have a relatively good ability to inhibit these bacteria’s growth.