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Limonene-in-water Pickering emulsion and on-demand separation using thermo-responsive biodegradable nanoparticles
Nicolò Manfredini1, Manuel Merigo, Juri Ilare
1Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy. mattia.sponchioni@polimi.it.
Nanoscale
|April 28, 2021
Summary
Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles stabilize limonene-in-water Pickering emulsions. These nanoparticles offer tunable properties and enable on-demand fragrance release via temperature-triggered destabilization, aligning with eco-friendly product trends.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Pickering emulsions are gaining traction for their stability and interfacial properties.
- Increasing demand for biodegradable materials in home and personal care products drives innovation.
- Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) present a sustainable solution for stabilizing fragrance oils in water.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize modular biodegradable NPs for creating stable limonene-in-water Pickering emulsions.
- To demonstrate control over NP properties (size, molecular weight, hydrophobicity) and emulsion characteristics.
- To achieve on-demand destabilization and selective release of encapsulated limonene.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of biodegradable NPs using ring-opening polymerization and RAFT emulsion polymerization.
- Fabrication of limonene-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized by the synthesized NPs.
- Characterization of NP properties and emulsion stability.
- Incorporation of thermo-responsive polymer chains for triggered destabilization.
Main Results:
- Modular biodegradable NPs with controlled size, molecular weight, and hydrophobicity were successfully synthesized.
- Stable limonene-in-water Pickering emulsions were formed, with tunable oil droplet size and wetting properties.
- Emulsions exhibited on-demand destabilization and selective limonene release upon temperature increase due to thermo-responsive polymer shells.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles are effective stabilizers for limonene-in-water Pickering emulsions.
- The developed NPs allow precise control over emulsion properties and fragrance delivery.
- Thermo-responsive Pickering emulsifiers offer a sustainable and controllable method for fragrance release in consumer products.
