Depletion Flocculation of High Internal Phase Pickering Emulsion Inks: A Colloidal Engineering Approach to Develop 3D...

Area of Science:

• Colloid and Surface Science
• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Flocculation in high internal-phase oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions influences rheology and 3D printing performance.
• Pickering emulsions, stabilized by particles, offer unique properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize depletion flocculation in Pickering high-internal-phase emulsions (Pickering-HIPEs) as a colloidal engineering strategy for 3D printing.
• To develop sustainable, porous 3D scaffolds for drug delivery applications using engineered Pickering-HIPE inks.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of O/W Pickering-HIPEs using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and sustainable biomass-derived particles.
• Inducing depletion flocculation by varying CNC content to form gel-like ink systems.
• 3D printing of porous scaffolds and evaluation of their properties and drug release kinetics.

Main Results:

• Higher CNC levels promoted depletion flocculation, yielding mechanically robust, gel-like Pickering-HIPE inks.
• The engineered inks allowed for 3D printing of structures with tunable porosity via internal voids and water phase elimination.
• The porous 3D scaffolds demonstrated controlled disintegration and curcumin release, highlighting their potential for drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• Depletion flocculation is an effective colloidal engineering approach for templating 3D printing of sustainable inks.
• This method enables the creation of next-generation porous scaffolds for personalized drug delivery.
• The study showcases a novel route to advanced materials for biomedical applications.