Nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions : fabrication, stabilization, and food applications

TL;DR

This review discusses the fabrication, stabilization mechanisms, and food industry applications of nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions, emphasizing their sustainability, stability, and potential in delivery systems and packaging.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions, including sources, extraction methods, and application strategies.

Findings

Nanocellulose effectively stabilizes Pickering emulsions via irreversible adsorption.

Synergistic effects enhance interfacial network stability.

Potential applications include delivery systems, packaging, and fat substitutes.

Abstract

Pickering emulsions have been widely studied due to their good stability and potential applications. Nanocellulose including cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and bacterial cellulose nanofibrils (BCNFs) has emerged as sustainable stabilizers/emulsifiers in food-related Pickering emulsions due to their favorable properties such as renewability, low toxicity, amphiphilicity, biocompatibility, and high aspect ratio. Nanocellulose can be widely obtained from different sources and extraction methods and can effectively stabilize Pickering emulsions via the irreversible adsorption onto oil-water interface. The synergistic effects of nanocellulose and other substances can further enhance the interfacial networks. The nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions have potential food-related applications in delivery systems, food packaging materials, and fat substitutes. In this review, we highlight key fundamental work and recent reports on nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsion systems. The sources and extraction of nanocellulose and the fabrication of nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions are briefly summarized. Furthermore, the synergistic stability and food-related applications of nanocellulose-stabilized Pickering emulsions are spotlighted.