###### Abstract  
The study outlined a standardized double emulsion method for simple poly(ethylene glycol)-_block_-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-b-PLGA) nanoparticle (NP) synthesis. The PEG-b-PLGA NP was also used for entrapment of geranilin as a simple model system for phytochemical delivery. PEG-b-PLGA NPs were prepared using the double emulsion method. The yields and particle sizes of PEG-b-PLGA NPs obtained with and without encapsulation of geranin were 57.6% and 134.20 \(\pm\) 1.45 nm and 66.7% and 102.70 \(\pm\) 12.36 nm, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography of geraninitin that was extracted from _Phylanthus Watsonii_ was detected at 64 min. Geranilin burst release began at 40 min and fully released at 3 h. PEG-b-PLGA NP was non-cytotoxic, while cytotoxicity of geranilin was dose dependant towards normal human epithelial colon cells, CCD 841 CoN cells.  
b 202010 13 July 202016 July 202010 9 June 202010 13 July 2020 16 July 2020 9 June 2020 10 4891 10.3390/app10144891 10.  
acting as a shield to the NP surface, thereby preventing NP aggregation and opsonization by immune cells [3]. PEG-b-PLGA, which have termini that are hydrophobic and hydrophilic, respectively, are safe for consumption due to their excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity [4]. Chemical bonds present in the PEG-b-PLGA polymer are carboxylic acid, ether, ester, and methyl and carbonyl groups. Thus, a combination of polar and non-polar bonds makes the polymer amphiphilic [5]. In this study, PEG-b-PLGA polymers were prepared using a modified double emulsion method.  
Encapsulation of phytochemicals derived from tropical plants into PEG-b-PLGA NPs may be a potential simple model for a phytochemical delivery system. Other approaches to deliver phytochemicals [6; 7] include micelles (closed-loop, single layer amphiphiles) and liposomes (closed-loop, lipid bilayer that can come in unilamellar, multilamellar or multi vesicles features) and phytosomes (closed-loop primarily of liposomes that are grafted to phytochemicals). Meanwhile, microemulsion and solid lipid NPs employ various shell types but with an optimized lipid, surfactant, and phytochemical formulation, in liquid core and solid core, respectively. There are also polymer NPs that form the shell or core of the NP. Moreover, there are inorganic NPs that are made of metals, ceramics, or carbons and turn into various shapes, porosity, and configurations to load drugs and phytochemicals.  
Tropical countries such a Malaysia have abundant supplies of local plants with medicinal value, such as _Phylanthus_ spp. (locally known as dukung anak), which is reported to have anti-diabetic, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties [8]. _Phylanthus_ watsonii (_P. watsonii_) has been shown to have potent anti-cancer activity when compared to other species of _Phylanthus_. The main ellagitannin present in _P. watsonii_ is geranin, which has been shown to contribute to the growth arrest of certain cancers, including colon cancer [8]. Geranin (molecular formula: C\({}_{41}\)H\({}_{28}\)O\({}_{27}\)) is a bioactive compound and a potent antioxidant [9], and it has anti-cancer, anti-hypertensive, anti-microbial, anti-viral, liver processing-friendly, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-diabetic properties [10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17]. In addition, geranin decreases carbohydrate metabolism by inhibiting activities of \(\alpha\)-glucosidase, \(\alpha\)-amylase, and aldol reductase and production of advanced glycation end-products [16]. The interest of this research is to generate a simple PEG-b-PLGA NPs shell. Therefore, encapsulating phytochemicals such as geranin derived from _P. watsonii_ into PEG-b-PLGA NPs can be a simple research model to study the use of PEG-b-PLGA NPs as a carrier for phytochemicals too. We initially hypothesized that geranin encapsulated in the PEG-b-PLGA NPs could be used as a general nutraceutical irrespective of the dosage.