Recent advances in nanoprecipitation: from mechanistic insights to applications in nanomaterial synthesis

Abstract

Nanoprecipitation is a versatile, low-energy technique for synthesizing nanomaterials through controlled precipitation, enabling precise tuning of material properties. This review offers a comprehensive and up-to-date perspective on nanoprecipitation, focusing on its role in nanoparticle synthesis and its adaptability in designing diverse nanostructures. The review begins with the foundational principles of nanoprecipitation, emphasizing the impact of key parameters such as flow rate, mixing approach, injection rate, and Reynolds number on nanomaterial characteristics. It also discusses the influence of physicochemical factors, including solvent choice, polymer type, and drug properties. Various nanoprecipitation configurations—batch, flash, and microfluidic are examined for their specific advantages in controlling particle size, morphology, and internal structure. The review further explores the potential of nanoprecipitation to create complex nanostructures, such as core–shell particles, Janus nanoparticles, and porous and semiconducting polymer nanoparticles. Applications in biomedicine and other fields highlight nanoprecipitation's promise as a sustainable and tunable method for fabricating advanced nanomaterials. Finally, the review identifies future directions, including scaling microfluidic techniques, expanding compatibility with hydrophilic compounds, and integrating machine learning to further enhance the development of nanoprecipitation.