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AM1-Stabilized PEG-Modified Nanoemulsions for Interfacial Engineering and Biomolecule Conjugation
Sarah Almaghrabi1, Dina Salman1, Abdulaziz Alhussan2
1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|April 25, 2026
Summary
Engineered peptide-stabilized nanoemulsions with tailored polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings demonstrate enhanced colloidal stability and cargo retention for biomolecule delivery. These tailorable nanoemulsions (TNEs) offer improved performance in physiological conditions and selective cellular interactions.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Nanoemulsions (NEs) are valuable for biomolecule delivery but face challenges with colloidal stability and surface control in physiological environments.
- Existing peptide-stabilized NEs often lack the robustness required for effective in vivo applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer peptide-stabilized, tailorable nanoemulsions (TNEs) with improved stability and surface control using systematic polyethylene glycol (PEG) interfacial modification.
- To assess the impact of different PEG architectures (linear, arm, hybrid) on NE physicochemical properties, stability, cargo retention, and cellular interactions.
Main Methods:
- Oil-in-water NEs were stabilized with the AM1 peptide and modified with 2 kDa PEG in various configurations.
- Characterization involved interfacial tension, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and stability assessments under diverse conditions (ionic, serum, storage).
- Cargo retention (DiI dye) and surface functionalization (CpG-ODN1826) were evaluated, alongside cellular interactions with peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Main Results:
- AM1 peptide stabilized NEs, but PEGylation significantly enhanced stability, yielding droplets around 179-183 nm.
- The hybrid P200-A-P200-L PEG formulation demonstrated stability for 28 days across all tested media.
- PEGylated TNEs exhibited high apparent dye retention (96-99% over 5 days) and reduced nonspecific cellular uptake, with enhanced association after CpG functionalization.
Conclusions:
- Peptide-stabilized nanoemulsions with tuned PEG architectures achieve superior colloidal stability and apparent cargo retention.
- These tailorable nanoemulsions (TNEs) offer enhanced control over surface properties and selective cellular interactions.
- The developed TNEs present a promising platform for advanced drug and nucleic acid delivery applications.
