Regulating the Oil-Water Interface to Construct Double Emulsions: Current Understanding and Their Biomedical Applications

Double emulsions have been extensively used in scientific researches and industrial applications due to their attractive unique feature of multiple phases. However, constructing droplets with such a complex structure is not a simple task for all time. The simultaneous existence of two contradictory interfaces makes it hard to prepare stable double emulsions in principle and in practice. Over the past century, tremendous efforts have been devoted by myriads of scientists to make progresses in both theory and preparation of double emulsions. In this review, the current understanding of double emulsions is systematically revealed. In addition to emphasizing the corresponding pioneer and landmark works as many as possible, the state-of-the-art achievements will also be discussed. By regulating the oil-water interface with smartly designed interface-active agents in combination with varying the phase volume fractions, the basic theory framework based on the phase inversion from simple emulsions to double emulsions is also summarized. Technical preparation strategies of emulsification are introduced to show the building process of the two contradictory interfaces in one system. Furthermore, some specific biomedical applications of double emulsions are also discussed, which is expected to stimulate further innovation and utilization of double emulsions.