Preparation of temperature-sensitive fragrance nanocapsules and its controllable release property

Temperature-sensitive nanocapsules with controllable release properties were synthesized through miniemulsion free radical polymerization method. Temperature-sensitive N,N-diethylacrylamide/N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DEA/DMA) copolymer were systematically synthesized as shell materials, and the fragrance-dementholized peppermint oil (DPO) was encapsulated as hydrophobic core material. The as prepared nanocapsules had high encapsulation efficiencies of more than 90% and small average diameters of less than 150 nm, as well as narrow polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.17. Furthermore, decreased DEA contents in shell material resulted in higher phase transition temperature and slower release rate of fragrance under the same temperature. By varying the copolymer composition of shell materials, the controllable release property of as prepared nanocapsules were also varied under different temperatures.