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Pickering Emulsions and Antibubbles Stabilized by PLA/PLGA Nanoparticles
Rodrigo Araya-Hermosilla1,2, Flora Dervillé1, Nicolás Cohn-Inostroza3
1Chemical Engineering Group, Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, Groningen 9747 AG, The Netherlands.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 16, 2021
Summary
Polymeric nanoparticles stabilize double emulsions and antibubbles without surfactants. Freeze-drying creates 3D structures, enabling controlled release of encapsulated substances upon heating.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Traditional emulsion stabilization often relies on surfactants, which can have limitations.
- Developing surfactant-free stabilization methods is crucial for various applications.
- Polymeric nanoparticles offer tunable properties for interfacial stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To produce and stabilize micrometer-sized double emulsions and antibubbles using polymeric nanoparticles via the Pickering mechanism.
- To investigate the use of polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles for emulsion stabilization.
- To achieve controlled release of encapsulated substances from the resulting structures.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of PLA and PLGA nanoparticles using the antisolvent technique without surfactants.
- Tuning nanoparticle hydrophobicity via thermal treatment for water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion stabilization.
- Formation of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions and subsequent freeze-drying to create 3D structures.
- Reconstitution of freeze-dried structures in water to form antibubbles.
- Controlled release studies using a fluorescent probe (calcein).
Main Results:
- Surfactant-free W/O emulsions stabilized by thermally treated PLA nanoparticles.
- Stable W/O/W double emulsions formed using hydrophilic PLGA nanoparticles in the outer phase.
- Preservation of 3D structure after freeze-drying due to sugar glassy phase formation.
- Successful generation of antibubble dispersions with nanoparticle-stabilized interfaces.
- Demonstrated controlled release of calcein from antibubbles upon heating to 37 °C.
Conclusions:
- Polymeric nanoparticles effectively stabilize double emulsions and antibubbles through the Pickering mechanism, eliminating the need for surfactants.
- Freeze-drying and reconstitution offer a viable method for creating stable 3D structures and antibubbles with potential for drug delivery.
- The developed antibubbles exhibit triggered release capabilities, opening avenues for advanced delivery systems.
