Antibacterial Pickering emulsions stabilized by bifunctional hairy nanocellulose

A sustainable and efficient emulsifier for vegetable oil-pickering emulsion based on cellulose nanoribbons

An emulsion stabilization technique based on molecularly thin cellulose nanoribbons (CR) is described, demonstrating superior emulsifying capability at concentrations as low as 0.05 %. The results show that CR enables the stabilization of oil-in-water emulsions that remain stable for over 60 days, even at high oil-to-water ratios. Rheological assessment reveals a shear-thinning profile and dominance of storage modulus (G') over loss modulus (G"), signifying the emulsions' viscoelastic nature and resistance to structural breakdown. In particular, emulsions containing 0.5 % CR presented exceptional centrifugal stability at 8000 rpm without oil leakage or emulsion breakage. In contrast, emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanofibrils (CNF) exhibited significantly reduced stability and viscosity. This study underscores CR's potential in creating eco-friendly, high-performance food-grade emulsions that meet the burgeoning demands for environmentally friendly and healthy foods.

Zwitterionic Molecularly Imprinted Hairy Cellulose Nanocrystals Enable Selective Vancomycin Removal

Access to free, off-target, and nontherapeutic doses of antibiotics is a key driving factor in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Intravenously (IV) administered vancomycin (VAN) is among the last-line antibiotics for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. A fraction of the total IV dose unwantedly reaches the gastrointestinal tract, driving AMR. Selective VAN removal from the complex intestinal fluid may reduce the probability of AMR emergence; however, it remains a significant challenge due to the competitive adsorption of other species. Here, we engineer novel VAN-imprinted polymerized zwitterionic hairy cellulose nanocrystals (ViPZ-HCNC) that selectively capture VAN with a removal capacity of ∼ 235 mg g-1 at an imprinting factor of ∼ 7.5. ViPZ-HCNC provide the first nanocellulose-based material with an excellent selectivity for VAN against lysine, lysozyme, and bovine serum albumin, which efficiently remove VAN from calcium ion-containing solutions and simulated intestinal fluids. Additionally, ViPZ-HCNC are not toxic against NIH/3T3 murine fibroblast cells. We envision that ViPZ-HCNC may pave the way for developing soft materials that selectively remove off-target VAN from a broad range of media, preventing VAN resistance evolution. This research is a step forward in addressing the long-lasting AMR challenge using a biobased platform.

Bifunctional performance of cellulose nanofibers grafted with polyhexamethylene guanidine in Pickering emulsion: Antibacterial activity and interfacial stability

This study developed the multifunctional cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as emulsifier for preparation of antibacterial, ultrastable and non-toxic emulsion. To achieve these properties, CNFs were oxidated using sodium periodate to introduce aldehyde groups, which served as Schiff-base reaction sites for amino groups of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), yielding PHMG-grafted CNFs (PCNFs). The modified CNFs retained good emulsification ability while acquiring antibacterial properties. PCNFs were irreversibly absorbed onto the droplet surface, forming dense covering layers that prevented coalescence. Their strong entanglement and bridging flocculation capacities bonded adjacent droplets, creating stable droplet-fiber network structures. This enabled a creaming index of 90 % with only 4.0 % PCNFs. Emulsion stabilized by PCNFs achieved over 99 % antibacterial rate and 99 % cell viability, confirming their effective inactivation of bacteria and good biocompatibility. These findings showed the potential of PCNFs for developing antibacterial, ultrastable, and non-toxic emulsions for daily and biomedical applications.

Nano-enabled dynamically responsive living acellular hydrogels

As a key building block of mammalian tissues, extracellular matrices (ECMs) stiffen under shear deformation and undergo cell-imparted healing after damage, features that regulate cell fate, communication, and survival. The shear-stiffening behavior is attributed to semi-flexible biopolymeric ECM networks. Inspired by the mechanical behavior of ECMs, we develop acellular nanocomposite living hydrogels (LivGels), comprising network-forming biopolymers and anisotropic hairy nanoparticle linkers that mimic the dynamic mechanical properties of living counterparts. We show that a bifunctional dynamic linker nanoparticle (nLinker), bearing semi-flexible aldehyde- and carboxylate-modified cellulose chains attached to rigid cellulose nanocrystals converts bulk hydrogels to ECM-like analogues via ionic and dynamic covalent hydrazone bonds. The nLinker not only enables the manipulation of nonlinear mechanics and stiffness within the biological window, but also imparts self-healing to the LivGels. This work is a step forward in designing living acellular soft materials with complex dynamic properties using bio-based nanotechnology.

Advanced magnetic nanospheres for oil pollutant management: Dual roles in emulsification and demulsification

Environmental contamination from oil spills and industrial oily wastewater poses significant ecological risks due to the persistence of harmful organic compounds. To address these challenges, magnetic composite nanospheres (CMNP@CHPEI) are systematically developed, with carboxylated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (CMNP) as the core and amphiphilic hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (CHPEI) as the decorated shell. These novel nanospheres combine the controllable size and magnetic responsiveness of "hard" magnetic nanomaterials with the structural complexity and functional diversity of "soft" hyperbranched polymers. This design allows for switching between emulsification and demulsification behaviors by regulating the size of the nanospheres and the amphiphilicity of CHPEI. Specifically, the nanospheres can form Pickering emulsions with oil droplet sizes smaller than 1 µm, maintaining stability for up to 75 days, and achieve rapid oil-water separation with demulsification efficiencies up to 99.8 %. Even after seven recycling experiments, they still retain significant interfacial activity and applicability. Interfacial characteristic experiments and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that particle size directly affects the film structures formed at oil-water interface, while the amphiphilic functional molecules determine the interaction mode of nanospheres with oil-water phases. These achievements introduce a versatile, environmentally friendly material for removing hazardous oil-based pollutants, with promising applications in oil spill remediation and industrial wastewater treatment.

Herbal small molecule-based low/medium internal phase supramolecular gel emulsion for diabetic wound healing

It remains a big challenge to fabricate low / medium internal phase gel emulsion for the safe wound dressing with low stimulation to the skin. Herein, utilizing the self-assembly and gelation of amphiphilic herbal small molecule-glycyrrhizic acid (GA) derived from traditional Chinese medicine, a new type of supramolecular gel emulsion (SGE) with antibacterial activity and low / medium internal phase was proposed. In the SGE, the oil droplets were stabilized by the nanofibers self-assembled from GA, and the SGE was formed by the supramolecular assembly of GA nanofibers in the presence of Pickering emulsions. As a result, under low / medium internal phase (φ = 30-50 %), SGEs could be readily prepared. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that the growth of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) could be effectively inhibited by the SGE. Additionally, compared to high internal phase SGE, SGE with φ = 50 % displayed lower cytotoxicity and a positive impact on the healing process of infectious diabetic wounds. This work provided a novel approach for constructing low / medium internal phase gel emulsion via herbal small molecule-based supramolecular assembly.

Raspberry-liked Pickering emulsions based inulin microparticles for enhanced antibacterial performance of essential oils

Pickering emulsions seem to be an effective strategy for encapsulation and stabilization of essential oils. In this work, a novel raspberry-liked Pickering emulsion (RPE) loading Mosla chinensis 'Jiangxiangru' essential oil (MJO) was successfully engineered by using ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA) decorated nanosilica (ELA-NS) as particles emulsifier. And the ELA-NS-stabilized MJO Pickering emulsion (MJO-RPE) was further prepared into inulin-based microparticles (MJO-RPE-IMP) by spray-drying, using inulin as matrix formers. The concentration of ELA-NS could affect the formation and stabilization of MJO-RPE, and the colloidal behavior of ELA-NS could be modulated at the interfaces with concentration of ELA, thus providing unique role on stabilization of MJO-RPE. The results indicated that the MJO-RPE stabilized ELA-NS with 2 % NS modified by 0.1 % ELA had long-term stability. MJO-RPE exhibited a raspberry-liked morphology on the surface, attributed to ELA-NS covered in the droplet surface. The inulin-based matrix formers could effectively prevent MJO-RPE from agglomeration or destruction during spray-drying, and 100 % concentration of inulin based microparticles formed large composite particles with high loading capacity (98.54 ± 1.11 %) and exhibited superior thermal stability and redispersibility of MJO-RPE. The MJO-RPE exhibited strong antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), owing to the adhesion to bacterial membrane dependent on the raspberry-liked surface of MJO-RPE, whose minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the above three bacteria were (0.3, 0.45, and 1.2 μL/mL), respectively, lower than those (0.45, 0.6 and 1.2 μL/mL) of MJO. Therefore, the Pickering emulsion composite microparticles seemed to be a promising strategy for enhancing the stability and antibacterial activity of MJO.

Body temperature responsive capsules templated from Pickering emulsion for thermally triggered release of β-carotene

In recent years, functional foods with lipophilic nutraceutical ingredients are gaining more and more attention because of its potential healthy and commercial value, and developing of various bioderived food-grade particles for use in fabrication of Pickering emulsion has attracted great attentions. Herein, the bio-originated sodium caseinate-lysozyme (Cas-Lyz) complex particles were firstly designed to be used as a novel interfacial emulsifier for Pickering emulsions. Pickering emulsions of various food oils were all successfully stabilized by the Cas-Lyz particles without addition of any synthetic surfactants, while the fluorescence microscopy and SEM characterizations clearly evidenced Cas-Lyz particles were attached on the surface of emulsion droplets. Additionally, the Cas-Lyz particles stabilized emulsion can also be used to encapsulate the β-carotene-loaded soybean oil, suggestion a potential method to carry lipophilic bioactive ingredients in an aqueous formulation for food, cosmetic and medical industry. At last, we present a Pickering emulsion strategy that utilizes biocompatible, edible and body temperature-responsive lard oil as the core material in microcapsules, which can achieve hermetic sealing and physiological temperature-triggered release of model nutraceutical ingredient (β-carotene).

Advancements in Hybrid Cellulose-Based Films: Innovations and Applications in 2D Nano-Delivery Systems

This review paper delves into the realm of hybrid cellulose-based materials and their applications in 2D nano-delivery systems. Cellulose, recognized for its biocompatibility, versatility, and renewability, serves as the core matrix for these nanomaterials. The paper offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the creation, analysis, and application of these materials, emphasizing their significance in nanotechnology and biomedical domains. It further illuminates the integration of nanomaterials and advanced synthesis techniques that have significantly improved the mechanical, chemical, and biological properties of hybrid cellulose-based materials.

Anti-Alzheimer Drug Delivery via Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Plate-like Cellulose Nanocrystals

In this work, we studied for the first time the formation of olive oil emulsions in water stabilized by plate-like nanocrystals with the supramolecular structure of cellulose II (pCNC). Effects of storage, pCNC concentration, and NaCl on the stability and properties of Pickering emulsions, including the creaming index, droplet size, zeta potential, acid-base surface properties, and rheology, were studied. A significant influence of the shape of nanoparticles (compared to the classical rod-like shape) on the stability parameters and rheological characteristics of emulsions is shown. Plate-like cellulose nanocrystals at a concentration of 16 g/L are able to form delamination-resistant emulsions without added electrolytes. The viscosity of pCNC-stabilized emulsions tends to decrease with increasing electrolyte concentration in the system, which is not characteristic of rod-like CNC-stabilized emulsions. This effect in pCNC-stabilized emulsions assumedly can be associated both with weak mechanical engagement between drops due to the shape of stabilizer particles and with an insignificant participation of background electrolyte cations in the formation of interdroplet interactions. Therefore, the resulting aggregates are unstable and easily destroyed, even under weak mechanical stress. As a consequence, the acid-base properties of the pCNC surface are practically independent of the emulsion preparation method (with or without electrolyte) as well as the concentration of the background electrolyte. The reduced viscosity of pCNC-stabilized emulsions in the presence of an electrolyte, coupled with the absence of acute toxicity, allows us to recommend them as a convenient oral delivery system for fat-soluble, biologically active substances. Our emulsions carrying donepezil (an anti-Alzheimer drug) showed better performance than a solution of donepezil hydrochloride in preventing memory impairment tested on laboratory mice.

Properties of Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals extracted from litchi peels

The development of Pickering emulsions which are applicable to the food industry still remains challenges due to the limited availability for biocompatible, edible and natural emulsifiers. The purpose of this study was to extract cellulose nanocrystals from litchi peels (LP-CNCs), and evaluate their emulsifying properties. The results showed that the LP-CNCs were needle-like and they possessed high crystallinity (72.34 %) and aspect ratio. When the concentrations of LP-CNCs were >0.7 wt% or the contents of oil were no >0.5, stable Pickering emulsions were obtained. The microstructures of emulsions confirmed that LP-CNCs formed dense interfacial layers on the surface of oil droplets, which functioned as barriers to prevent aggregation and flocculation among droplets. Rheological results showed that the emulsions exhibited typical shear thinning behavior. The elastic of emulsions was dominant, and their gel strength could be enhanced by regulating the contents of emulsifiers or oil. Additionally, the Pickering emulsions stabilized by LP-CNCs showed extremely high pH, ionic strength, and temperature tolerance. This strategy provides an innovative alternative to tackle the dilemma of preparing highly stable Pickering emulsions using natural particles in food products.