Effect of diacylglycerol interfacial crystallization on the physical stability of water-in-oil emulsions

Polyglycerol polyricinoleate and lecithin stabilized water in oil nanoemulsions for sugaring Beijing roast duck: Preparation, stability mechanisms and color improvement

Traditional Beijing roast duck often suffers from uneven color and high sugar content after roasting. Water-in-oil (W/O) nanoemulsion is a promising alternative to replace high concentration of sugar solution used in sugaring process according to similarity-intermiscibility theory. Herein, 3% of xylose was embedded in the aqueous phase of W/O emulsion to replace 15% maltose solution. W/O emulsions with different ratios of lecithin (LEC) and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) were constructed by high-speed homogenization and high-pressure homogenization. Distribution and penetration extent of solutions and emulsions through the duck skin, as well as the color uniformity of Beijing roast duck were analyzed. Emulsions with LEC:PGPR ratios of 1:3 and 2:2 had better stability. Stable interfacial film and spatial structure were important factors influencing emulsion stabilization. The stable W/O emulsions could more uniformly distribute onto the surface of duck skin and longitudinally penetrate through the skin than solutions.

Interfacial crystallized oleogel emulsion with improved freeze-thaw stability and tribological properties: Influence of cooling rate

In this study, the influence of cooling rate on the freeze-thaw stability, rheological and tribological properties of interfacial crystalized oleogel emulsion was investigated. Results showed that slower cooling rate could promote formation of larger crystals and stronger network in oleogels. Additionally, oleogel emulsions showed higher freeze-thaw stability than those stabilized solely by emulsifiers. The slower cooling rate resulted in larger crystals adsorbed at the droplet surface. This led to greater steric hindrance that prevented the migration of oil droplets with higher resistance to disruption by ice crystals. The rheological and tribological measurements suggested that with appropriate amount of crystals, the tribological properties were better maintained for emulsions prepared at slow cooling rate after freeze-thaw treatment. This strategy greatly enriched oleogel emulsion formulations and provided important clues for potential applications in food products involved with freeze-thaw treatment.

Structuring vegetable oils through enzymatic glycerolysis for water-in-oil emulsions

Enzymatic glycerolysis is a biotechnological process for structuring vegetable oils. This study investigates the kinetics of glycerolysis of peanut oil and explores the potential of the resulting structured oil to enhance the physical stability of water-in-oil emulsions. Using a 1:1 glycerol-to-oil molar ratio and 4 % lipase B from Candida antarctica as a catalyst, the reaction was conducted at 65 °C with stirring at 400 rpm. Acylglyceride fractions changes were quantified through NMR and DSC. Fat crystal formation was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed a first-order decay pattern, converting triglycerides into monoacylglycerides and diacylglycerides in less than 16 h. Subsequently, water-in-oil emulsions prepared with glycerolized oil showed augmented stability through multiple light scattering techniques and visual assessment. The structured oils effectively delayed phase separation, highlighting the potential of glycerolysis in developing vegetable oil-based emulsions with improved functional properties and reduced saturated fatty acid content.

Ultrasonic enhancement of structural and emulsifying properties of heat-treated soy protein isolate nanoparticles to fabricate flaxseed-derived diglyceride-based pickering emulsions

Flaxseed-derived diglyceride (DAG)-based Pickering emulsions were fabricated using soy protein isolate (SPI) nanoparticles as stabilizer. The SPI nanoparticles were prepared under the combined action of heating and ultrasound treatment. The SPI nanoparticles exposed to 600 W power exhibited the smallest particle size (133.36 nm) and zeta potential (-34.77 mV). Ultrasonic treatment did not significantly impact the polypeptide chain's primary structure but induced changes in the secondary structure. The Pickering emulsions stabilized with ultrasound-treated SPI nanoparticles showed smaller particle size, lower zeta potential, and improved emulsifying properties. Notably, at 450 W power, these emulsions showed a higher solid-liquid balance, reduced mean square displacement, backscattering fluctuations, and turbiscan stability index. Besides, they displayed a more compact microstructure with smaller droplets. In conclusion, SPI subjected to heating and 450 W ultrasound power resulted in the fabrication of DAG-based Pickering emulsions with enhanced microstructure and stability.

Interfacial adsorption of soybean phosphatidylethanolamine in different oil phase and the stability of water-in-oil emulsion

Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion holds great potential in designing fat-reduced foods. However, due to the lack of W/O-type surfactant, formation of all-natural W/O emulsion is challenged. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oil phase on interfacial adsorption of soybean phosphatidylethanolamine (SP) and stability of W/O emulsion. Five oils, including medium chain triglycerides oil (MO), coconut oil (CO), palm kernel oil (PKO), sunflower oil (SO) and rapeseed oil (RO), were selected. Results showed that diffusion rate of SP to the interface ranked as MO > CO > PKO > SO ≈ RO, increasing interfacial adsorption from 50.2 % to 85.3 %. Higher interfacial adsorption improved the deformation resistance of interfacial layer, causing more significant decrease in interfacial tension (3.54 mN/m). So, the largest water fraction (65 %) was stabilized by SP with MO and CO, and exhibited smaller droplet sizes and better stability. Consequently, shorter-chain oil was more suitable for preparing W/O emulsions.

Recent advances in studying crystallisation of mono- and di-glycerides at oil-water interfaces

This review focuses on the current understanding regarding lipid crystallisation at oil-water interfaces. The main aspects of crystallisation in bulk lipids will be introduced, allowing for a more comprehensive overview of the crystallisation processes within emulsions. Additionally, the properties of an emulsion and the impact of lipid crystallisation on emulsion stability will be discussed. The effect of different emulsifiers on lipid crystallisation at oil-water interfaces will also be reviewed, however, this will be limited to their impact on the interfacial crystallisation of monoglycerides and diglycerides. The final part of the review highlights the recent methodologies used to study crystallisation at oil-water interfaces.

Dual functionality of diacylglycerols in water-in-oil emulsion gel systems

Distearin (DS) can be used as an emulsifier, due to its surface activity derived from the amphiphilic nature of the molecule, moreover, it can also crystallize and form a 3D crystal network that can induce oil gelation. The current research aimed to examine the ability to combine both emulsifying and oil gelation properties to structure and stabilize water-in-oil emulsion gel system. Different water contents and DS concentrations produce emulsion gels with different textural attributes while incorporating up to 30% of water in a 15% wt. DS-based oleogel resulted in stable white gels. Microscopy imaging confirmed the formation of a water-in-oleogel type emulsion gel characterized by DS crystallization in the continuous phase and at the interface through Pickering mechanism. A positive relation was observed between the G' and hardness values and water content, suggesting gel strengthening resulted from interactions between the DS crystals at the interface and the continuous phase, as suggested by the active filler theory. Thermal analysis revealed two broad melting events at the temperature range of 42.2-44.9 °C and 55.9-58.6 °C for emulsion gels with 10-30% water content, suggesting initial melting of β' polymorph and transition to β during melting, which was confirmed by XRD. The results showed that homogenization significantly improved the oil retention of the gels due to increased crystal surface area, while water addition slightly reduced it. Compared with traditional emulsions or oleogels, this water-in-oil gel system demonstrated prolonged stability and enhanced mechanical properties due to the dual functionality of DS at the water/oil interface and bulk.

Pickering emulsion with high freeze-thaw stability stabilized by xanthan gum/lysozyme nanoparticles and konjac glucomannan

In this study, freeze-thaw cycle experiments were conducted on food-grade Pickering emulsions co-stabilized with konjac glucomannan (KGM) and xanthan gum/lysozyme nanoparticles (XG/Ly NPs). The rheological properties, particle size, flocculation degree (FD), coalescence degree (CD), centrifugal stability, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microstructure of Pickering emulsion stabilized by KGM before and after freeze-thaw were characterized. It was found that as the concentration of KGM increased, the flocculation degree (FD) and coalescence degree (CD) of the emulsion decreased after the freeze-thaw cycle compared to the control sample, and the microscopic images showed that the droplets became smaller and less affected by the freeze-thaw cycles. The rheological and water-holding properties also confirmed that the KGM-added emulsions still had a strong gel network structure and prevented the separation of the continuous and dispersed phases of the droplets after freezing and thawing. Freeze-thaw treatments had a negative effect on the stable emulsion of XG/Ly NPs, while the addition of KGM improved the freeze-thaw stability of the emulsion, which provided a theoretical basis for the development of emulsion products with high freeze-thaw stability.

Influence of varying oil phase volume fractions on the characteristics of flaxseed-derived diglyceride-based Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified soy protein isolate

This research aimed to create Pickering emulsions using modified soy protein isolate (SPI) as a stabilizer and flaxseed-derived diglyceride (DAG) as an oil phase. The SPI was modified through a process involving both heating and ultrasound treatment. The result indicated that the droplet size of emulsions increased with the increase in oil content (p < 0.05). For instance, the largest droplet size (23 µm) was observed at an oil-to-SPI dispersion ratio of 4:1 ratio (φ = 80), whereas the smallest droplet size (6.39 µm) was noticed at the 1:4 ratio. During the 7-day storage period, the emulsions with a 4:1 ratio (φ = 80) showed the lowest droplet size increase (from 23 µm to 25.58 µm). In contrast, the emulsions with a 1:1 ratio displayed the highest increase (from 19.39 µm to 74.29 µm). Creaming index results revealed that emulsions with a 4:1 ratio (φ = 80) showed no signs of creaming and phase separation than all other treatments (p < 0.05). Backscattering fluctuations (ΔBS) and turbiscan stability index (TSI) showed that emulsions with 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1 oil-to-SPI dispersion ratios had consistent ΔBS curves with higher and TSI curves with lower values. Optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning, and cryo-scanning electron microscopy revealed that emulsions with oil-to-SPI dispersion ratios of 4:1 and 2:1 had well-organized structures with no visible coalescence. Macromorphological and microrheological investigations demonstrated that emulsions with 80% oil content had the highest viscosity, both moduli, elasticity index, macroscopic viscosity index, and the lowest fluidity index and solid-liquid balance values. Moreover, these emulsions were more resistant to centrifugation and storage environments. In conclusion, the study determined that flaxseed-derived DAG-based high internal phase Pickering emulsions (φ = 80) had superior stability, improved viscoelasticity, and better rheological properties.

Mechanisms of lipid oxidation in water-in-oil emulsions and oxidomics-guided discovery of targeted protective approaches

Lipid oxidation is an inevitable event during the processing, storage, and even consumption of lipid-containing food, which may cause adverse effects on both food quality and human health. Water-in-oil (W/O) food emulsions contain a high content of lipids and small water droplets, which renders them vulnerable to lipid oxidation. The present review provides comprehensive insights into the lipid oxidation of W/O food emulsions. The key influential factors of lipid oxidation in W/O food emulsions are presented systematically. To better interpret the specific mechanisms of lipid oxidation in W/O food emulsions, a comprehensive detection method, oxidative lipidomics (oxidomics), is proposed to identify novel markers, which not only tracks the chemical molecules but also considers the changes in supramolecular properties, sensory properties, and nutritional value. The microstructure of emulsions, components from both phases, emulsifiers, pH, temperature, and light should be taken into account to identify specific oxidation markers. A correlation of these novel oxidation markers with the shelf life, the organoleptic properties, and the nutritional value of W/O food emulsions should be applied to develop targeted protective approaches for limiting lipid oxidation. Accordingly, the processing parameters, the application of antioxidants and emulsifiers, as well as packing and storage conditions can be optimized to develop W/O emulsions with improved oxidative stability. This review may help in emphasizing the future research priorities of investigating the mechanisms of lipid oxidation in W/O emulsion by oxidomics, leading to practical solutions for the food industry to prevent oxidative rancidity in W/O food emulsions.

Network Structure and Nanoplatelet Characterization of the Edible Fat Crystallization in Low-Fat W/O Emulsions

Fat crystals provided the strength of the colloidal network in W/O emulsions and stabilized water droplets. To understand the stabilizing effect of fat-regulated emulsions, W/O emulsions with different edible fats were fabricated. The result indicated that more stable W/O emulsions were produced by palm oil (PO) and palm stearin (PS), whose proportions of fatty acids were similar. Meanwhile, water droplets inhibited the crystallization of emulsified fats but participated in the formation of the colloidal network with fat crystals in emulsions, and the Avrami equation showed a slower crystallization rate of emulsified fats than the corresponding fat blends. However, water droplets participated in the formation of a colloidal network of fat crystals in emulsions, and the adjacent fat crystals were connected through a bridge constructed by water droplets. Fats in the emulsion containing palm stearin crystallized faster and more easily formed the β-polymorph. The small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data were interpreted by the unified fit model to determine the average size of crystalline nanoplatelets (CNPs). The larger CNPs (>100 nm) with a rough surface of emulsified fats and a uniform distribution of their aggregates was confirmed.

Preparation and characterization of diacylglycerol via ultrasound-assisted enzyme-catalyzed transesterification of lard with glycerol monolaurate

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the transesterification of lard with glycerol monolaurate (GML) using Lipozyme TL IM to synthesize diacylglycerol (DAG), and the physicochemical properties of lard, GML, ultrasonic-treated diacylglycerol (named U-DAG), purified ultrasonic-treated diacylglycerol obtained by molecular distillation (named P-U-DAG), and without ultrasonic-treated diacylglycerol (named N-U-DAG) were analyzed. The optimized ultrasonic pretreatment conditions were: lard to GML mole ratio 3:1, enzyme dosage 6 %, ultrasonic temperature 80 °C, time 9 min, power 315 W. After ultrasonic pretreatment, the mixtures reacted for 4 h in a water bath at 60 °C, the content of DAG reached 40.59 %. No significant variations were observed between U-DAG and N-U-DAG in fatty acids compositions and iodine value, while P-U-DAG had lower unsaturated fatty acids than U-DAG. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that the melting and crystallization properties of DAGs prepared by ultrasonic pretreatment significantly differed from lard. FTIR spectra noted transesterification reaction from lard and GML with and without ultrasonic pretreatment would not change the structure of lard. However, thermogravimetric analysis proved that N-U-DAG, U-DAG, and P-U-DAG had lower oxidation stability than lard. The higher the content of DAG, the faster the oxidation speed.

Construction of interfacial crystallized oleogel emulsion with improved thermal stability

In this study, we reported a facile strategy to produce an interfacial crystallized oleogel emulsion for improved thermal stability. The interfacial crystallization of ceramide (non-interfacial active oleogelator) was achieved by addition of a surface active compound, which was demonstrated by interfacial rheology tests and polarized light microscopy. For successfully prepared interfacial crystallized emulsions, smaller particle size was observed when the gelator concentration was lower. However, better thermal stability was achieved when oleogelator concentration was higher than 1 wt%. Results from differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that the interfacial adsorption of ceramide was due to its co-crystallization with the emulsifier driven by hydrogen bonds formed by multiple sites. It provided appropriate crystallinity and steric repulsion for oleogel emulsions against oil droplet coalescence during heating process. This strategy greatly enriches oleogel emulsion formulations and their potential applications in food products involved with thermal treatment.

Thickening mechanism of recombined dairy cream stored at 4 °C: Changes in the composition and structure of milk protein under different sterilization intensities

This work elucidates the mechanism involved in the effect of varying sterilization intensities on RDC thickening via comparative analysis of the changes in the composition and structure of RDC interfacial protein after storage at 4 °C and at 25 °C. The results showed that pasteurized RDCs (75 °C for 16 s, 90 °C for 5 min) and high-temperature sterilized RDCs (105 °C for 3 min, 115 °C for 7 min and 121 °C for 7 min) did not thicken during storage at 25 °C, and had lower viscosities and higher Ca²⁺ concentrations than those stored at 4 °C. Whey protein (WP) aggregates were found to have been adsorbed at the interface of high-temperature treated RDCs stored at 4 °C, leading to the aggregation of fat globules and, consequently, reversible thickening. However, high-temperature sterilized RDCs underwent into irreversible thickening at 10 d, 7 d and 3 d. This phenomenon was attributed to the large amount of heat-induced whey protein and κ-casein complex that was absorbed on the oil-water interface, with Ca²⁺ bonded to form bridging flocculation, which altered the secondary structure of the interfacial protein to one with increased β-sheet content and decreased random coil content.

Water-in-oil emulsions enriched with alpha-linolenic acid in diacylglycerol form: Stability, formation mechanism and in vitro digestion analysis

This study developed an alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) supplement with emulsion form using ALA-rich diacylglycerol (ALA-DAG) and ALA-DAG stearin (DAG-SF) as a new source of ALA and emulsifier. Stable, commercial surfactant-free W/O emulsions with 90 wt% oil phase (including DAG-SF and ALA-DAG with 10:90 - 20:80 wt ratio) was fabricated. Microstructure and Raman spectra revealed that the compact crystal networks and high amounts of solid acyl chains were responsible for high emulsion stability. These emulsions exhibited good potential in improving the ALA nutritional status (with ALA release level of 60.49% - 62.98%). Furthermore, the emulsifier-to-oil ratio greatly impacted the emulsion texture (solid-like or liquid-like) and emulsions showed great oxidation stability (2.80 - 3.09 meq/kg lipid of peroxide value at 6th week). The tunable texture and high oxidation stability make this emulsion system useful for a wide range of food products. This developed emulsion system could provide valuable information for other important fatty acids supplement.

Progress in the Application of Food-Grade Emulsions

The detailed investigation of food-grade emulsions, which possess considerable structural and functional advantages, remains ongoing to enhance our understanding of these dispersion systems and to expand their application scope. This work reviews the applications of food-grade emulsions on the dispersed phase, interface structure, and macroscopic scales; further, it discusses the corresponding factors of influence, the selection and design of food dispersion systems, and the expansion of their application scope. Specifically, applications on the dispersed-phase scale mainly include delivery by soft matter carriers and auxiliary extraction/separation, while applications on the scale of the interface structure involve biphasic systems for enzymatic catalysis and systems that can influence substance digestion/absorption, washing, and disinfection. Future research on these scales should therefore focus on surface-active substances, real interface structure compositions, and the design of interface layers with antioxidant properties. By contrast, applications on the macroscopic scale mainly include the design of soft materials for structured food, in addition to various material applications and other emerging uses. In this case, future research should focus on the interactions between emulsion systems and food ingredients, the effects of food process engineering, safety, nutrition, and metabolism. Considering the ongoing research in this field, we believe that this review will be useful for researchers aiming to explore the applications of food-grade emulsions.

Stabilisation of oleofoams by lauric acid and its glycerol esters

Four types of pure lipid, namely lauric acid (LA), glycerol monolaurate (MAG), diglycerol laurate (DAG) and triglyceride laurate (TAG) were used to prepare oleofoams. The relationship between crystal profiles and their performance in oleofoams was established. DAG formed small needle-like crystals while MAG formed large flake-like crystals in oleogels, and crystal shells around air bubbles were observed in LA-, MAG- and DAG-based oleofoams. LA and DAG displayed higher over-run whereas DAG-stabilised foam possessed smaller bubbles and higher physical stability due to the presence of small β and β' crystals. Upon heating, DAG and TAG-based foams showed varying extents of oil drainage indicating the crystals were distributed in a different manner. Therefore, DAG was shown to be an excellent gelator in the fabrication of ultra-stable oleofoams. This work extends the lipid varieties with nutritional features and allows a better understanding on the stabilization mechanisms of lauric acid lipids in oleofoams.

Fabrication and characterization of oleogels and temperature-responsive water-in-oil emulsions based on candelilla (Euphorbia cerifera) wax

Developing novel fats with zero trans and low saturated fatty acids represents a research hotspot in the colloid field today. Herein, natural candelilla (Euphorbia cerifera) wax was used as an oleogelator to construct oleogel systems, and can make strong oleogels at low concentrations (3 wt%). These oleogels were further employed as continuous phases to fabricate surfactant-free W/O emulsions with excellent stability (at least 30 days). Microstructural observation confirmed that the stability of emulsions was attributed to the interface and bulk phase crystallization of wax. All oleogels and emulsions were pseudoplastic fluids whose gel properties could be tuned via regulating oleogelator concentration. Water content also influenced the emulsion rigidity, denoting the droplets acted as "active fillers". Additionally, the emulsions displayed a temperature-responsive property, beneficial in mimicking the "fat-like" melt-in-the-mouth effect. These findings greatly enrich the formulation of surfactant-free W/O emulsions, providing technical support for the development of novel fats.

W/O high internal phase emulsion featuring by interfacial crystallization of diacylglycerol and different internal compositions

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) show promising application in food and cosmetic industries. In this work, diacylglycerol (DAG) was applied to fabricate water-in-oil (W/O) HIPEs. DAG-based emulsion can hold 60% water and the emulsion rigidity increased with water content, indicating the water droplets acted as "active fillers". Stable HIPE with 80% water fraction was formed through the combination of 6 wt% DAG with 1 wt% polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR). The addition of 1 w% kappa (κ)-carrageenan and 0.5 M NaCl greatly reduced the droplet size and enhanced emulsion rigidity, and the interfacial tension of the internal phase was reduced. Benefiting from the Pickering crystals-stabilized interface by DAG as revealed by the microscopy and enhanced elastic modulus of emulsions with the gelation agents, the HIPEs demonstrated good retaining ability for anthocyanin and β-carotene. This study provides insights for the development of W/O HIPEs to fabricate low-calories margarines, spread or cosmetic creams.

Recent progress in oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) double emulsions

Oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) double emulsions are recognized as an advanced design route for oil structuring that shows promising applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food fields. This review summarizes the main research advances of O/W/O double emulsions over the past two decades. It mainly focuses on understanding the preparation strategies, stabilization mechanism, and potential applications of O/W/O double emulsions. Several emulsification strategies are discussed, including traditional two-step emulsification method, phase-inversion approach, membrane emulsification, and microfluidic emulsification. Further, the role of interfacial stabilizers and viscosity in the stability of O/W/O double emulsions will be discussed with a focus on synthetic emulsifiers, natural biopolymer sand solid particles for achieving this purpose. Additionally, analytical methods for evaluating the stability of O/W/O double emulsions, such as advanced microscopy, rheology, and labeling assay are reviewed taking into account potential limitations of these characterization techniques. Moreover, possible innovative food applications are highlighted, such as simulating fat substitutes to decrease the trans- or saturated fatty acid content and developing novel delivery and encapsulation systems. This review paves a solid way for the exploration of O/W/O double emulsions toward large-scale implementation within the food industry.

Tailored rigidity of W/O Pickering emulsions using diacylglycerol-based surface-active solid lipid nanoparticles

Pickering water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions were fabricated by using medium-long chain diacylglycerol (MLCD)-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and the connection between the characteristics of the SLNs and the colloidal stability of the emulsions was established. Via melt-emulsification and ultrasonication, MLCD-based SLNs with particle sizes of 120-300 nm were obtained with or without other surfactants. The particle size of the SLNs was influenced by the chemical properties of the surfactants, and surfactants decreased the contact angle of SLNs at the oil-water interface. Gelation was observed in SLNs modified by sodium stearoyl lactylate and lecithin, whereas the addition of Tween 20 resulted in a homogeneous SLN solution. The adsorption of surfactants onto SLN surfaces caused the production of higher amounts of α crystals accompanied by delayed crystallization onset which contributed to the reduction of particle size, interfacial tension and oil wetting ability. The W/O emulsions with higher rigidity and physical stability can be obtained by varying surfactant types and by increasing SLN mass ratios to 60%, whereby more SLNs are adsorbed at the droplet surface as a Pickering stabilizer. This study provides useful insights for the development of diacylglycerol-based SLNs and Pickering W/O emulsions which have great potential for food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

Water-in-oil Pickering emulsions stabilized solely by a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin: Diosgenin

In this study, stable water-in-oil emulsions stabilized solely by a naturally occurring steroidal sapogenin was reported for the first time. The results show that a concentrated emulsion with an internal water ratio of up to 60% can be obtained with only 3% of diosgenin concentration. The concentration of diosgenin had a significant effect on the microstructure and rheological properties of the emulsions. More importantly, the emulsion has excellent freeze/thaw stability and thermal stability. The results of polarized light microscopy, CLSM, and XRD indicate that the great structural properties and high stability of the emulsion can be attributed to the combined action of the diosgenin crystal shells on the droplet surface and needle-crystals in the continuous phase. That is, Pickering stabilization and network stabilization acting synergistically on stabilization of the emulsions. This novel food grade water-in-oil emulsions demonstrated great potential for application in food and biomedical-related fields.

Recent advances on food-grade water-in-oil emulsions: Instability mechanism, fabrication, characterization, application, and research trends

Owing to their promising application prospects, water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions have aroused continuous attention in recent years. However, long-term stability of W/O emulsions remains a particularly challenging problem in colloid science. With the increasing demand of consumers for natural, green, and healthy foods, the heavy reliance on chemically synthesized surfactants to achieve long-term stability has become the key technical defect restricting the application of W/O emulsions in food. To design and manufacture W/O emulsions with long-term stability and clean label, a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of the W/O emulsion system is required. This review aims to demystify the field of W/O emulsions and update its current research progress. We first provide a summary on the essential basic knowledge regarding the instability mechanisms, including physical and chemical instability in W/O emulsions. Then, the formulation of the W/O emulsion system is introduced, particularly focusing on the use of natural stabilizers. Besides, the characterization and application of W/O emulsions are also discussed. Finally, we propose promising research trends, including (1) developing W/O high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as fat mimetic and substitute, (2) promising formulation routine for long-term stable double emulsions, and (3) searching for novel plant-derived stabilizers of W/O emulsions.

Efficiency of Deoxynivalenol Detoxification by Microencapsulated Sodium Metabisulfite Assessed via an In Vitro Bioassay Based on Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells

Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination occurs in feeds and causes a reduction in growth performance, damage to the intestinal epithelial cells, and increased susceptibility to enteric pathogen challenge. Sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) has shown promise in reducing DON; however, SMBS quickly degrades under aqueous acidic conditions such as the environment within a stomach. Thus, protection of SMBS is required for effective delivery to the small intestine to detoxify DON. This study was to encapsulate SMBS into hydrogenated palm oil-based microparticles for its delivery to the small intestine and to evaluate its efficacy on DON detoxification in simulated intestinal fluids using IPEC-J2 cells in vitro. The diameter of the SMBS containing microparticles was 511 ± 135 μm, and the loading capacity of SMBS in the microparticles was 45.50%; 1.41% of the encapsulated SMBS (ES) was released into the simulated gastric fluid, and 66.39% of ES was progressively released into the simulated intestinal fluid within 4 h at 37 °C. In IPEC-J2 cells, when DON was treated with the simulated gastric fluid containing 0.5% ES for 2 h, then mixed with the simulated intestinal fluid (1:1) and incubated for 2 h, cytotoxicity was not observed. DON treated with 0.5 ES decreased the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines in the cells compared with DON alone and maintained the cell integrity. To conclude, the SMBS containing microparticles were stable in the simulated gastric fluid and allowed a progressive release of SMBS in the simulated intestinal fluid. The released SMBS in the simulated intestinal fluid effectively detoxified DON.