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Updated: May 3, 2026
Cellular Affinity of Particle-Stabilized Emulsion to Boost Antigen Internalization
Published on: September 2, 2022
ε-poly-l-lysine-grafted nanocellulose prepared by enzymatic oxidation for high-internal-phase Pickering emulsions and
Huangjingyi Chen1, Yujun Zou2, Chong Tang2
1Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Longpan Road 159, Nanjing, 210037, China; Bioproducts Institute, University of British Columbia, 2385 East Mall, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
Abstract:
This study presents a strategy for preparing ε-poly-l-lysine-grafted nanocellulose via TEMPO-laccase/O2 oxidation followed by aldehyde-directed Schiff-base coupling. The resulting nanofibrils, with lengths of 0.8-1.2 μm, exhibited zwitterionic behavior, with ζ-potentials ranging from +49 to -28 mV, while Schiff-base grafting at pH 9 afforded the highest surface amino-group density of 0.915 ± 0.08 mmol g-1. Owing to the combination of high-aspect-ratio fibrillar morphology and amphoteric surface functionality, ε-PL-TLOCN enabled the formation of ultra-stable oil-in-water high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) with oil volume fractions up to 82% at nanofibril concentrations below 0.8 wt%, in contrast to conventional aminated nanocellulose systems that require much higher particle loadings. Using curcumin as a model lipophilic nutraceutical, the resulting HIPEs exhibited enhanced photostability and increased in vitro gastrointestinal bioaccessibility to approximately 60%, compared with about 30% for bulk oil. These results demonstrate that enzymatic oxidation combined with Schiff-base grafting provides an effective route for constructing multifunctional nanocellulose and highlight ε-PL-TLOCN as a promising stabilizer for high-internal-phase emulsions and oral delivery systems.
