This study investigates formulation and process modifications to improve the versatility of the nanoprecipitation technique, particularly with respect to the encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs (e.g. proteins). More specifically, the principal objective was to explore the influence of such modifications on nanoparticle size. Selected parameters of the nanoprecipitation method, such as the solvent and the non-solvent nature, the solvent/non-solvent volume ratio and the polymer concentration, were varied so as to obtain polymeric nano-carriers. The feasibility of such a modified method was assessed and resulting unloaded nanoparticles were characterized with respect to their size and shape. It was shown that the mean particle size was closely dependent on the type of non-solvent selected. When alcohols were used, the final mean size increased in the sequence: methanol