Coated particles and methods of making and using the same

1. A particle comprising a core and a coating on at least a portion of a surface of the core, the coating comprising a cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer,

wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer is cationic starch, and

wherein the coating is affixed on the core through cross-linking.

2. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the particle comprises the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer in an amount in a range of about 1% to about 15% by weight of the core.

3. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer absorbs a 10% saline solution, at room temperature, in an amount of at least 10 times the weight of the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer.

4. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises sand.

5. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the particle is a proppant.

6. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the coating is insoluble in an aqueous solution.

7. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the particle has a specific gravity that is less than the specific gravity of an uncoated core and/or the volume of the particle, upon exposure to water, is greater than that of a dry and/or uncoated core.

8. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer has a degree of substitution in a range of about 0.05 to about 0.8.

9. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the particle and/or coating swells upon contact with a solution having a salinity in a range of about 50 ppm to about 150,000 ppm and/or having a hardness in a range of about 1 ppm to about 150,000 ppm.

10. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the particle in a first aqueous solution having a hardness in a range of about 150 ppm to about 150,000 ppm has a degree of swelling that changes by less than about 40% compared to the particle in a second aqueous solution having a hardness in a range of less than 150 ppm.

11. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer is covalently cross-linked.

12. The particle of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to the application of shear on the particle, at least a portion of the coating remains present on, around, and/or adhered to the core.

13. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the coating is breakable in the presence of a breaking agent.

14. A plurality of particles comprising a particle of claim 1 .

15. The plurality of particles of claim 14 , wherein when about 35 grams of the plurality of particles is mixed with about 85 g of an aqueous solution in a 100 ml container and allowed to sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes, a settled bed height and/or volume of the plurality of particles is achieved that is about 0.5 to about 4 times greater than a settled bed height and/or volume of a plurality of uncoated particles under the same conditions.

16. The plurality of particles of claim 14 , wherein, after exposing the plurality of coated particles to shear in a range of about 40 s −1 to about 600 s −1 for about 1 minute to about 1 hour, the plurality of coated particles has a settled bed height and/or volume that is at least about 80% of the settled bed height and/or volume prior to exposing the plurality of coated particles to shear.

17. The particle of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer comprises a primary amine, secondary amine, tertiary amine, quaternary ammonium, sulfonium, and/or phosphonium group.

18. The particle of claim 17 , wherein the cross-linked, charge-modified biopolymer is covalently cross-linked.