BACKGROUNDThis paper reports a bioinspired emulsion polymerization approach through biosurfactants (rhamnolipid and surfactin) templating for synthesizing highly monodisperse, spherical polymer bionanocomposites consisting of polystyrene (PS) (core)/biosurfactants (shell) (50-190nm) and their feasibility as a biocompatible and biodegradable drug delivery vehicle. RESULTSConversion profile, particle size dependence on biosurfactant concentration and structural characterizations of resulting polymers from bioinspired emulsion polymerization were similar to conventional emulsion polymerization. In vitro biodegradation studies revealed >2.5-fold increase in bacterial growth (Pseudomonas aeruginosaMTCC 7926) and gravimetric weight loss (10% w/w) in biosurfactants templated PS, compared with the conventional route. Soil burial biodegradation tests supported these findings. In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility studies showed unchanged cell viability of adult rat (Rattus norvegicus) hepatocytes for polystyrenes synthesized using biosurfactants, while conventional PS beads proved to be cytotoxic in a dose-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress, increased lipid peroxidation, alterations in GSH detoxification and histopathology corroborated these results. Release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from BSA loaded polystyrene/biosurfactant bionanocomposites were 2.5-5-fold higher in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) than in acidic buffer (pH 1.2). CONCLUSIONTaken together, polystyrene/biosurfactant bionanocomposites could serve as a biocompatible and biodegradable colon or intestine-specific drug delivery vehicle. (c) 2012 Society of Chemical Industry