Methods of preparing organic nanoparticles are provided. Such methods can include generating a mixture of an organic material, a first liquid, and a second liquid, wherein the organic material is more soluble in the second liquid than in the first liquid. The methods can also include adding a third liquid to the mixture which causes the mixture to form an emulsion. Such an emulsion can have a continuous phase including the first liquid and a discontinuous phase including the organic material and the second liquid. The organic material can be precipitated to form organic nanoparticles and the second liquid can diffuse into the continuous phase.