Cress (Lepidium sativum) seed gum was selected as a new source of hydrocolloid to fabricate a novel polysaccharide nanoparticle by desolvation method. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to evaluate individual and interactive effects of three main independent factors (gum concentration, amount of acetone and rate of agitation) on the particle size, zeta potential and relative viscosity. The central composite design was used for optimization of desolvation process. The results showed that the particle size of cress seed gum nanoparticles (CSGN) was significantly influenced by all three factors, whereas the relative viscosity was only affected by the gum concentration. The optimum conditions for CSGN preparation were determined as follow: 0.28% w/v gum concentration, 5.12 ml acetone and rate of agitation of 500 rpm. The CSGN had a spherical shape with average size of 20.10 nm and zeta potential of -32.38 mv as confirmed by DLS method and SEM images.

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