Microemulsions as Nanoreactors for Synthesis of Biopolymer Nanoparticles

Publication date: Available online 5 February 2019Source: Trends in Food Science & TechnologyAuthor(s): Sara Asgari, Amir Hossein Saberi, David Julian McClements, Mengshi LinAbstractBiopolymer nanoparticles are a versatile group of colloidal delivery systems with numerous food and pharmaceutical applications. Various methods have been employed for the fabrication of these nanoparticles. However, many conventional methods are infeasible for practical utilization because they involve multiple steps and involve energy-, time- and, material-consuming methods. Microemulsion droplets are particularly suitable for the practical preparation of biopolymer nanoparticles. Microemulsion composition and structure can be optimized to tailor nanoparticle characteristics. In this review, different microemulsion-based procedures for synthesis of biopolymer nanoparticles are discussed, including single and double microemulsion-based methods. The major parameters affecting the size of biopolymer nanoparticles are summarized. In addition, current challenges and future research directions are discussed.
Source: Trends in Food Science and Technology - Category: Food Science Source Type: research