# Synthesis of Star Nanoparticles and Their Applications for Bioactive Compound Encapsulation
## 6 Conclusions  
Currently, the field of nanoparticles is experiencing a great expansion in terms of scientific research due to its great potentials as nanocarriers in different bioapplications in fields as medicine, cosmetics, or food. SNPs offer a clear advantage compared to the other types of nanoparticles due to their high biocompatibility and versatility since there is a wide range of potential synthesis methods that allow the controlling of the final shape properties such as and size and size distribution.  
SNPs have been synthesized through different synthesis methods using starches from several sources. Usually, both the synthesis method and the type of starch will affect the final properties of the nanoparticles, as well as their capacity for encapsulation. Maize starch is one of the most commonly used for SNPs synthesis both individually or in combination with other starches, such as potato, pea, or mung bean, which has shown to led to small particle sizes. Both nanoprecipitation and microemulsion methods allow obtaining SNPs with target small sizes.  
SNPs have been used to encapsulate bioactive compounds for controlled release in different biomedical applications such as drug administration, enzyme inhibition process, and even DNA precipitation.  
The encapsulation efficiency of the bioactive compounds did not vary significantly when the encapsulation was performed directly or indirectly and therefore, it was concluded that the encapsulation method does not influence the amount of bioactive compound encapsulated in the SNPs. Nevertheless, the type of starch selected has shown to have a major influence since higher encapsulation efficiencies were obtained when maize starch was used for the SNPs synthesis with both encapsulation methods.  
It has been demonstrated through in vivo and in vitro experiments that SNPs are a good vehicle for the controlled release of bioactive compounds and the use of these loaded SNPs are promising agents to encapsulate drugs and antitumor agents that could be used in therapy. However, there is still not enough research performed on the characterization of the SNPs for in vivo drug delivery formulations which is necessary to study the possible interactions with the human body and their consequences in order to determine how SNPs will adversely affect human health in short and long terms.  
The main disadvantage of SNPs is that their synthesis process is not scaled up yet. Even some pilot plant processes have been designed for SNPs preparation, there is still further research necessary to develop more novel methods that will allow obtaining large-scale production of SNPs with control on the final particle size. Moreover, the studies found regarding the preparation of SNPs containing encapsulated bioactive compounds have not yet been industrialized and future research is necessary in order to obtain satisfactory bioactive or drug-loaded SNPs on a large scale.  
Conceptualization, methodology, validation and writing-original draft preparation, D.M.; Conceptualization, methodology, validation, M.C.B.-L., A.M. and M.R.; conceptualization, validation, writing-review and editing, supervision and project administration, G.G. and M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research received no external funding.  
Not applicable.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.