Polymeric nanoencapsulation methods, which combine sonication and nonsolvent temperature induced crystallization, are provided. The steps include (a) providing active agent nanoparticles having an average diameter between about 5 and about 100 nm; (b) treating said active agent nanoparticles (e.g., a superparamagnetic material) with an anionic surfactant to form modified active agent nanoparticles; (c) mixing the modified active agent nanoparticles with a solution of a polymer in a solvent at a first temperature, which is greater than the melting temperature of the polymer and less than the boiling point of the solvent to form a first mixture, said mixing comprising the use of sonication; (d) mixing a non-solvent with the first mixture to form a second mixture, the non-solvent being a non-solvent for the solvent and for the polymer and having a boiling point greater than the melting temperature of the polymer; (e) sonicating the second mixture to form an emulsion; and (f) cooling the emulsion to a second temperature and at a rate effective to precipitate polymeric nanoparticles comprising the polymer with the modified active agent nanoparticles dispersed therein.
