Pickering emulsions stabilized by zein and polysaccharide composite nanoparticles and their application in food...

In response to the demand for natural, safe, and sustainable food preservation, zein-polysaccharide Pickering emulsions have attracted increasing attention for their biocompatibility, interfacial stability, and bioactive loading capacity. This review examines polysaccharides with different charge properties, zein-polysaccharide binding mechanisms, preparation methods, emulsion fabrication, stabilization mechanisms, and food-preservation applications. The available evidence indicates that polysaccharide structure and charge, zein-polysaccharide interactions, and processing conditions collectively determine the interfacial architecture and physicochemical stability of the resulting emulsions, thereby affecting their bioactive loading, protection, and preservation performance. Tailoring polysaccharide characteristics and processing strategies therefore provides opportunities to regulate emulsion properties for specific food-preservation applications. A key innovation of these systems is the integration of interfacial stabilization with bioactive protection and delivery, providing a multifunctional platform for food preservation.