Preparation and Characterization of Starch Nanoparticles from Potato Starch by Combined Solid‐State Acid‐Catalyzed Hydrolysis and Nanoprecipitation

Nanoprecipitation has low efficiency in preparing starch nanoparticles, which is not conducive to large‐scale production. Solid‐state acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis combined with nanoprecipitation is used to simply and efficiently prepare starch nanoparticles. The effects of different hydrolysis times on the properties of the starch nanoparticles are explored, including the morphology, crystalline structural properties, and thermal properties. In addition, the loading and release behaviors of asarone from the starch nanoparticles are evaluated. Starch nanoparticles can be prepared by solid‐state acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis (12.5:1 starch/hydrochloric acid mass ratio, 3% hydrochloric acid, 80 °C and 12 h) combined with nanoprecipitation (water/ethanol volume ratio, 1:4) using 50 mg mL −1 starch solution, and the yield is 80–85%. The starch nanoparticles have a particle size of 200–300 nm. The combined solid‐state acid‐catalyzed hydrolysis and nanoprecipitation method can effectively prepare starch nanoparticles by increasing the starch solution concentration and reducing the amount of organic solvent compared to the requirements for traditional nanoprecipitation, which promotes the formation of starch nanoparticles.