Pickering stabilization of foams and emulsions with particles of biological origin

The focus in the study of Pickering foams and emulsions has recently been shifting from using inorganic particles to adopting particles of biological origin for stabilization. This shift is motivated by the incompatibility of some inorganic particles for food and biomedical applications, as well as their poor sustainability. This review focuses on major developments in foams and emulsions stabilized by particles of biological origin from the last 5 years. Recent reports in the literature have demonstrated the ability of particles derived from cellulose, lignin, chitin, starch, proteins (soy, zein, ferritin), as well as hydrophobic cells to stabilize biphasic dispersions. We review the use of such nano- and micron-sized particles of biological origin for the stabilization of foams and emulsions, summarize the current knowledge of how such particles stabilize these dispersions, provide an outlook for future work to improve our understanding of bio-derived particle-stabilized foams and emulsions, and touch upon how these systems can be used to create novel materials.     

胶体颗粒稳定的界面及胶体颗粒在界面的相互作用

Particle-stabilized dispersions such as emulsions, foams and bubbles are catching increasing attentions across a number of research areas. The adsorption mechanism and role of these colloidal particles in stabilizing the oil-water or gas-water interfaces and how these particles interact at interfaces are vital to the practical use of these dispersion systems. Although there have been intensive investigations, problems associated with the stabilization mechanisms and particle-particle interactions at interfaces still remain to explore. In this paper, we first systematically review the historical understanding of particle-stabilized emulsions or bubbles and then give an overview of the most important and well-established progress in the understanding of particle-stabilized systems, including emulsions, foams and liquid marbles. The particle-adsorption phenomena have long been realized and been discussed in academic paper for more than one century and a quantitative model was proposed in the early 1980s. The theory can successfully explain the adsorption of solid particles onto interface from energy reduction approaches. The stability of emulsions and foams can be readily correlated to the wettability of the particles towards the two phases. And extensive researches on emulsion stability and various strategies have been developed to prepared dispersion systems with a certain trigger such as pH and temperature. After that, we discuss recent development of the interactions between particles when they are trapped at the interface and highlight open questions in this field. There exists a huge gap between theoretical approaches and experimental results on the interactions of particles adsorbed at interfaces due to demanding experimental devices and skills. In practice, it is customary to use flat surfaces/interfaces as model surfaces to investigate the particle-particle at interfaces although most of the time interfaces are produced with a certain curvature. It is shown that the introduction of particles onto interfaces can generate charges at the interfaces which could possibly account for the long range electrostatic interactions. Finally, we illustrate that particle-stabilized dispersions have been found wide applications in many fields and applications such as microcapsules, food, biomedical carriers, and dry water. One of the most investigated areas is the microencapsulation of actives based on Pickering emulsion templates. The particles adsorbed at the interface can serve as interfacial stabilizers as well as constituting components of shells of colloidal microcapsules. Emulsions stabilized by solid particles derived from natural and bio-related sources are promising platforms to be applied in food related industries. Emulsion systems stabilized by solid particles of the w/w (water-in-water) feature are discussed. This special type of emulsion is attracting increasing attentions due to their all water features. Besides of oil-water interface, particle stabilized air-water interface share similar stabilization mechanism and several applications reported in the literature are subsequently discussed. We hope that this paper can encourage more scientists to engage in the studies of particle-stabilized interfaces and more novel applications can be proposed based on this mechanism     

Coalescence of particle-laden fluid interfaces

Colloidal particles are capable of stabilizing emulsions and, thus, slowing or preventing their complete breakdown into phase-separated systems. Direct observations of the dynamics of such particles on both water and oil droplets are reported as two colloid-laden interfaces are brought into contact with each other. As coalescence proceeds, the complementary systems, representing oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, exhibit contrasting mechanisms for the formation of ring and disk structures by the particles as they serve to temporarily stabilize the approaching surfaces. An explanation of such behavior leads to a better understanding of the stabilization and breaking mechanisms of so-called Pickering emulsions.     

The effect of modifier concentration on the stability of emulsions and foams stabilized with colloidal silica particles

The stability of emulsions and foams stabilized with hexylamine-modified silica particles has been studied as depending on the concentration of the surfactant. Silica modification with short-chain hexylamine leads to a marked increase in the contact angle upon selective wetting and inversion of the phases in the emulsions. The contact angles upon wetting silica surface by aqueous phases are no larger than 60°, while the maximum stability of foams corresponds to contact angles of 38°–50° depending on the concentration of the solid particles.     

Protein–polysaccharide associative interactions in the design of tailor-made colloidal particles

This article reviews some recent advances in the use of diverse protein–polysaccharide associative interactions in the design of colloidal particles having potential to be used for both fortification of food colloids with health-promoting bioactive compounds with better control of their physical stability and breakdown within the gastrointestinal tract. Protein–polysaccharide associative interactions are discussed in the following aspects: (i) the formation of micro- and nanoparticles for the delivery of health promoting ingredients (nutraceuticals); (ii) the controlled gastrointestinal fate of colloidal particles; (iii) the formation of biopolymer-based particles as fat replacers; and (iv) the behavior of colloidal particles as stabilizers of emulsions and foams. The first aspect concerns soluble protein–polysaccharide complex particles (electrostatic nanocomplexes, complex coacervates, covalent conjugates), mixed hydrogel particles, and nanoemulsion-based delivery systems.     

Effects of Oil on Aqueous Foams: Electrical Conductivity of Foamed Emulsions

Three‐phase foams containing dispersed oils (also called foamed emulsion) are usually encountered in such areas as enhanced oil recovery, food foams, and in foams containing antifoams. The presence of oil causes these complex fluids to exhibit extraordinary properties in contrast to aqueous foams. We experimentally investigated, for the first time, the conductive properties of the foamed emulsions and found that the electrical conductivity increases monotonically with the volumetric liquid fraction, presenting a linear relationship. Combined with the analysis on the foaming capacity and microstructure of this complex fluid, the conductive mechanism is revealed. In these foamed emulsions, the whole conductive network is comprised of two levels of structural hierarchy, which displays a different mechanism from those of the conventional aqueous foams. The lamella of emulsions is taken as primary electrical channel, whereas the secondary electrical channel occurs in the lamella between two bubbles. This conductive behaviour is attributed to the microstructure properties of the foamed emulsions. We believe that such findings are potentially important for a better understanding of the fundamentals of these tri‐phase dispersion systems.     

Long-term stabilization of foams and emulsions with in-situ formed microparticles from hydrophobic cellulose

We report a simple method to produce foams and emulsions of extraordinary stability by using hydrophobic cellulose microparticles, which are formed in situ by a liquid-liquid dispersion technique. The hydrophobic cellulose derivative, hypromellose phthalate (HP), was initially dissolved in water-miscible solvents such as acetone and ethanol/water mixtures. As these HP stock solutions were sheared in aqueous media, micron sized cellulose particles formed by the solvent attrition. We also designed and investigated an effective and simple process for making HP particles without any organic solvents, where both the solvent and antisolvent were aqueous buffer solutions at different pH. Consequently, the HP particles adsorbed onto the water/air or water/oil interfaces created during shear blending, resulting in highly stable foams or foam/emulsions. The formation of HP particles and their ability for short-term and long-term stabilization of interfaces strongly depended on the HP concentration in stock solutions, as well as the solvent chemistry of both stock solutions and continuous phase media. Some foams and emulsion samples formed in the presence of ca. 1 wt% HP were stable for months. This new class of nontoxic inexpensive cellulose-based particle stabilizers has the potential to substitute conventional synthetic surfactants, especially in edible, pharmaceutical and biodegradable products.     

Particle zips: vertical emulsion films with particle monolayers at their surfaces

Vertical emulsion films with particle monolayers at their surfaces have been studied by direct microscope observations. The effects of particle wettability and surface coverage on the structure and stability of water films in octane and octane films in water have been investigated. Monodisperse silica particles (3 microm in diameter) hydrophobized to different extents have been used. It is found that the structure and stability of emulsion films strongly depend on the film type (water-in-oil or oil-in-water), the particle contact angle, the interactions between particles from the same and the opposite monolayer, and the monolayer density. Stable films are observed only when the particle wettability fulfills the condition for stable particle bridges--in agreement with the concept that hydrophilic particles can give stable oil-in-water emulsions, whereas hydrophobic ones give water-in-oil emulsions. In the case of water films with dilute disordered monolayers at their surfaces, the hydrophilic particles are expelled from the film center toward its periphery, giving a dimple surrounded by a ring of particles bridging the film surfaces. In contrast, the thinning of octane films with dilute ordered monolayers at their surfaces finally leads to the spontaneous formation of a dense crystalline monolayer of hydrophobic particles bridging both surfaces at the center of the film. The behaviors of water and octane films with dense close-packed particle monolayers at their surfaces are very similar. In both cases, a transition from bilayer to bridging monolayer is observed at rather low capillary pressures. The implications of the above finding for particle stabilized emulsions are discussed.     

Ballooning Behavior of Droplet Sizes in Pickering Emulsions Prepared by Flocculated PS Latexes

Pickering emulsions were prepared by mixing silicone oil whose methyl groups had been partly substituted by amine groups and water containing polystyrene (PS) latex particles in the presence of NaCl. The oil droplets rapidly enlarged after approximately 2 days of their preparation, and thereafter reached a steady-state size. After the ballooning behavior of the droplet growth, the droplet surfaces covered with PS latex particles were observed by a confocal laser scanning microscope. At NaCl concentrations above and below the critical flocculation concentration of the PS latex particles, the PS latex particles were flocculated into loosely packed and close-packed structures on droplet surfaces, respectively.     

Spectral Properties of Foams and Emulsions

The optical and spectral properties of foams and emulsions provide information about their micro-/nanostructures, chemical and time stability and molecular data of their components. Foams and emulsions are collections of different kinds of bubbles or drops with particular properties. A summary of various surfactant and emulsifier types is performed here, as well as an overview of methods for producing foams and emulsions. Absorption, reflectance, and vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy-FTIR, Raman spectroscopy) studies are detailed in connection with the spectral characterization techniques of colloidal systems. Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) data for foams and emulsions are likewise introduced. The utility of spectroscopic approaches has grown as processing power and analysis capabilities have improved. In addition, lasers offer advantages due to the specific properties of the emitted beams which allow focusing on very small volumes and enable accurate, fast, and high spatial resolution sample characterization. Emulsions and foams provide exceptional sensitive bases for measuring low concentrations of molecules down to the level of traces using spectroscopy techniques, thus opening new horizons in microfluidics.     

Structure and dynamics of confined foams: a review of recent progress

Basic research on confined foams now points to an interesting application, a kind of microfluidics which deals with the manipulation of closely packed droplets or bubbles flowing in channels. In such systems, the minimisation of interfacial energy leads to self-organised ordering which is tightly coupled to the channel geometry, hence providing efficient means of performing controlled topological operations on droplet and bubbles structures. We have called this discrete microfluidics, and have begun to explore its possibilities and principles. Apart from the fact that such systems provide powerful tools to study the flow of foams and emulsions on the scale of a few bubbles or droplets, they also carry the promise of versatile applications for Lab-on-a-Chip technologies. In these, discrete gas or liquid samples can be generated, processed, stored and analysed within a single handheld chip. Previous work on foams and emulsions in confined geometries provides a basis for this, and is being extended progressively by new experiments and appropriate dynamic models, such as the 2d Viscous Froth Model. The result should be a practical "design kit" for more complex networks to efficiently process discrete gas and fluid samples.     

Recent Advances and Applications of Plant-Based Bioactive Saponins in Colloidal Multiphase Food Systems

The naturally occurring saponins exhibit remarkable interfacial activity and also possess many biological activities linking to human health benefits, which make them particularly attractive as bifunctional building blocks for formulation of colloidal multiphase food systems. This review focuses on two commonly used food-grade saponins, Quillaja saponins (QS) and glycyrrhizic acid (GA), with the aim of clarifying the relationship between the structural features of saponin molecules and their subsequent self-assembly and interfacial properties. The recent applications of these two saponins in various colloidal multiphase systems, including liquid emulsions, gel emulsions, aqueous foams and complex emulsion foams, are then discussed. A particular emphasis is on the unique use of GA and GA nanofibrils as sole stabilizers for fabricating various multiphase food systems with many advanced qualities including simplicity, ultrastability, stimulability, structural viscoelasticity and processability. These natural saponin and saponin-based colloids are expected to be used as sustainable, plant-based ingredients for designing future foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.     

Inversion of silica-stabilized emulsions induced by particle concentration

Emulsions of equal volumes of a cyclic silicone oil and water stabilized by fumed silica nanoparticles alone can be inverted from oil-in-water (o/w) to water-in-oil (w/o) by simply increasing the concentration of particles. The phenomenon is found to be crucially dependent both on the inherent hydrophobicity of the particles and on their initial location. Inversion only occurs in systems with particles of intermediate hydrophobicity when dispersed in oil; emulsions prepared from the same particles but initially dispersed in water remain o/w at all particle concentrations. The stability and drop size distributions in the different emulsions are compared. Various hypotheses are put forward and argued to explain this novel inversion route including adsorption of oil onto particle surfaces, hysteresis of contact angle affecting particle wettability in situ, and the structure of particle dispersions in oil or water prior to emulsification inferred from rheology and light scattering measurements. We propose that the tendency for particles to behave more hydrophobically at higher concentrations in oil is due to the reduction in the effective silanol content at their surfaces as a result of gel formation via silanol-silanol hydrogen bonds. In water, solvation of particle surfaces prevents this from occurring and particles behave as hydrophilic ones at all concentrations. A concentration-induced change in particle wettability is thus advanced.     

Ti6Al4V foams having nanotubular surfaces for orthopaedic applications

Despite the widespread use of Ti6Al4V in orthopaedics, the bioinert nature of this alloy limits its biological fixation with the bone tissue. To enhance its bone fixation, two different types of Ti6Al4V foams were fabricated, and their surfaces were modified zto possess nanofeatures. To prepare the foams, spherical- or irregular-shaped Ti6Al4V particles were used to form the backbones of the foams, while magnesium or carbamide powders were used as space holder agents. Once Ti6Al4V foams were fabricated, oxide-based nanotubular arrays having 40 nm diameter were formed on the interconnected pore surfaces via anodization. Results showed successful growth of nanotubular oxide arrays independent of the pore surface morphology, chemistry, and porosity content. Nanotubular surfaces induced formation of calcium phosphate minerals independent of the Ti6Al4V particle type and the space holder agent. Thus, anodized nanotubular Ti6Al4V foams could potentially induce enhanced integration of Ti6Al4V-based porous implants with the bone tissue.     

Self-organization of bidisperse colloids in water droplets

Most of the colloidal clusters have been produced from oil-in-water emulsions with identical microspheres dispersed in oil droplets. Here, we present new types of binary colloidal clusters from phase-inverted water-in-oil emulsions using various combinations of two different colloids with several size ratios: monodisperse silica or polystyrene microspheres for larger particles and silica or titania nanoparticles for smaller particles. Obviously, a better understanding of how finite groups of different colloids self-organize in a confined geometry may help us control the structure of matter at multiple length scales. In addition, since aqueous dispersions have much better phase stability, we could produce much more diverse colloidal materials from water-in-oil emulsions rather than from oil-in-water emulsions. Interestingly, the configurations of the large microspheres were not changed by the presence of the small particles. However, the arrangement of the smaller particles was strongly dependent on the nature of the interparticle interactions. The experimentally observed structural evolutions were consistent with the numerical simulations calculated using Surface Evolver. These clusters with nonisotropic structures can be used as building blocks for novel colloidal structures with unusual properties or by themselves as light scatterers, diffusers, and complex adaptive matter exhibiting emergent behavior.     

Interfacial dynamics and rheology of polymer-grafted nanoparticles at air-water and xylene-water interfaces

Particle-stabilized emulsions and foams offer a number of advantages over traditional surfactant-stabilized systems, most notably a greater stability against coalescence and coarsening. Nanoparticles are often less effective than micrometer-scale colloidal particles as stabilizers, but nanoparticles grafted with polymers can be particularly effective emulsifiers, stabilizing emulsions for long times at very low concentrations. In this work, we characterize the long-time and dynamic interfacial tension reduction by polymer-grafted nanoparticles adsorbing from suspension and the corresponding dilatational moduli for both xylene-water and air-water interfaces. The dilatational moduli at both types of interfaces are measured by a forced sinusoidal oscillation of the interface. Surface tension measurements at the air-water interface are interpreted with the aid of independent ellipsometry measurements of surface excess concentrations. The results suggest that the ability of polymer-grafted nanoparticles to produce significant surface and interfacial tension reductions and dilatational moduli at very low surface coverage is a key factor underlying their ability to stabilize Pickering emulsions at extremely low concentrations.     

Pickering emulsions stabilized by surface-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Unmodified Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles do not stabilize Pickering emulsions of a polar oil like butyl butyrate. In order to obtain stable emulsions, the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were modified by either carboxylic acid (RCOOH) or silane coupling agents (RSi(OC(2)H(5))(3)) to increase their hydrophobicity. The influence of such surface modification on the stability of the resultant Pickering emulsions was investigated in detail for both a non-polar oil (dodecane) and butyl butyrate in mixtures with water. The stability of dodecane-in-water emulsions in the presence of carboxylic acid-coated particles decreases as the length of the alkyl group (R) and the coating extent increase. However, such particles are incapable of stabilizing butyl butyrate-water emulsions even when the carboxylic acid length is decreased to two. However, the silane-coated Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles can stabilize butyl butyrate-in-water emulsions, and they also increase the stability of dodecane-in-water emulsions. Thermal gravimetric analysis indicates that the molar quantity of silane reagent is much higher than that of carboxylic acid on nanoparticle surfaces after modification, raising their hydrophobicity and enabling enhanced stability of the resultant polar oil-water emulsions.     

Some Emulsion Features

Traditionally, emulsions have been defined as consisting of two liquids, of which one is dispersed in the other as macroscopic drops, stabilized by mono‐molecular layer of surfactant at the interface. However, a large majority of commercial emulsions are more complex than so and the added elements are essential for the properties of the emulsions including their stability.

With this in mind, this treatment of emulsions is divided into emulsions with mono‐layers and multilayers at the interface. In addition, additional elements in emulsions are described; such as lyotropic liquid crystals, vesicles, microemulsion droplets and solid particles, and their potential influence on the emulsion properties is indicated.     

HOLE-BURNING SPECTROSCOPY OF ACTIVE AND INACTIVATEE) PHOTOSYSTEM II PARTICLES

This paper reports transient and persistent hole-burning of photosynthetically active as well as chemically reduced and heat inactivated photosystem II particles isolated from cyanobacteria. Transient spectra of active and non-active particles are significantly different. For both, the possible origin of the bottle-neck state is discussed. Persistent holes were ascribed to the antenna complex of photosystem II. From their width the energy transfer rate was estimated to be 4.8 ps at 4.2 K.