Cellulose Nanocrystal Stabilized Emulsions

Cellulose nanocrystal stabilised emulsions represent a class of Pickering systems in which rigid, rod-like nanoparticles derived from the crystalline regions of cellulose adsorb at oil–water interfaces to arrest droplet coalescence. The inherent amphiphilicity, high aspect ratio and surface charge of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) drive their spontaneous assembly into dense interfacial layers that confer remarkable resistance to coalescence, flocculation and Ostwald ripening. The formation of these emulsions typically involves high-energy methods such as ultrasonication or microfluidisation, which disperse oil droplets in an aqueous CNC suspension. The interfacial network provides steric and electrostatic barriers, tunable via pH, ionic strength and CNC concentration, and yields systems stable over a wide pH range, under elevated temperatures and in the presence of salts. Owing to their renewable origin, biodegradability and biocompatibility, CNC-stabilised emulsions have been explored for controlled delivery of bioactive compounds, modulation of lipid digestion, development of vaccine adjuvants, anticancer formulations, food-grade carriers and high-performance composite materials. Recent advances have highlighted strategies to functionalise CNC surfaces, optimise interfacial microstructure and integrate complementary biomolecules, thereby expanding the functional scope of these sustainable emulsion platforms.

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Cellulose Nanocrystal Stabilized Emulsions publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cellulose nanocrystal stabilized emulsions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Pickering emulsion: An emulsion stabilised by solid particles adsorbed at the oil–water interface rather than by molecular surfactants.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC): Rod-shaped nanoparticles extracted from cellulose fibres, characterised by high crystallinity, surface charge and amphiphilicity.

Interfacial tension: The excess free energy per unit area at the interface between two immiscible phases, reduced by particle or surfactant adsorption.

Microfluidisation: A high-shear, high-pressure process that disperses immiscible liquids into fine droplets, promoting interfacial stabilisation by nanoparticles.

Electrostatic stabilisation: A mechanism by which like-charged particles generate repulsive forces to prevent droplet coalescence and flocculation.

References

1. Pickering multiphase materials using plant‐based cellulosic micro/nanoparticles. Aggregate (2024).
2. Polysaccharide Nanofiber‐Stabilized Pickering Emulsion Microparticles Induce Pyroptotic Cell Death in Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells. Small (2023).
3. The fate of cellulose nanocrystal stabilised emulsions after simulated gastrointestinal digestion and exposure to intestinal mucosa. Nanoscale (2019).