An overview of nanoemulsion characterization via atomic force microscopy

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nanoemulsions protect active ingredients and control release in food applications.
• Characterizing nanoemulsion interfaces is crucial for designing advanced systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamentals of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and nanoemulsions.
• To highlight the application of AFM in characterizing nanoemulsion droplet interfaces.
• To discuss future perspectives for AFM in nanoemulsion research.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on AFM techniques.
• Analysis of studies utilizing AFM for emulsion interface characterization.
• Exploration of AFM's advantages over traditional methods.

Main Results:

• AFM offers unique advantages for visualizing interface morphology and measuring interfacial forces.
• There is a knowledge gap regarding AFM's specific applicability to nanoemulsion droplet interfaces.
• Existing studies on general emulsions provide a basis for AFM application in nanoemulsions.

Conclusions:

• AFM is a promising technique for detailed nanoemulsion interface analysis.
• Further research is needed to fully establish AFM's role in nanoemulsion characterization.
• This review provides insights for developing advanced AFM methodologies for nanoemulsions.