High internal phase Pickering emulsions stabilized by surface-modified dialdehyde xylan nanoparticles.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Pickering emulsions are stabilized by solid particles.
• Polysaccharide-based nanoparticles offer sustainable and biocompatible alternatives.
• High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) require efficient stabilizers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel hemicellulose-based nanoparticles for HIPPE stabilization.
• To investigate the properties and stability of HIPPEs stabilized by these nanoparticles.
• To explore the potential of these nanoparticles in soft material fabrication.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of polyethylenimine-modified dialdehyde xylan nanoparticles (PEI-DAXNPs) from esparto pulp xylan.
• Stabilization of oil-in-water HIPPEs using PEI-DAXNPs via one-time homogenization.
• Evaluation of HIPPE stability over 180 days and characterization of gel-like HIPPE properties.

Main Results:

• PEI-DAXNPs successfully stabilized oil-in-water HIPPEs with long-term stability (180 days).
• Gel-like HIPPEs were formed at a low PEI-DAXNP concentration (0.1 wt%).
• HIPPEs exhibited shear-thinning behavior and good viscoelastic properties.

Conclusions:

• PEI-DAXNPs are effective and sustainable stabilizers for HIPPEs.
• The developed HIPPEs show potential for fabricating soft materials and porous scaffolds.
• This study highlights the valorization of hemicellulose-based nanoparticles.