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Review
. 2022 Nov 15;15(11):1413.
doi: 10.3390/ph15111413.

A Review of Pickering Emulsions: Perspectives and Applications

Fernanda Brito de Carvalho-Guimarães  1 , Kamila Leal Correa  1 , Tatiane Pereira de Souza  2 , Jesus Rafael Rodríguez Amado  3 , Roseane Maria Ribeiro-Costa  4 , José Otávio Carréra Silva-Júnior  1
Affiliations
Review

A Review of Pickering Emulsions: Perspectives and Applications

Fernanda Brito de Carvalho-Guimarães et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). .

Abstract

Pickering emulsions are systems composed of two immiscible fluids stabilized by organic or inorganic solid particles. These solid particles of certain dimensions (micro- or nano-particles), and desired wettability, have been shown to be an alternative to conventional emulsifiers. The use of biodegradable and biocompatible stabilizers of natural origin, such as clay minerals, presents a promising future for the development of Pickering emulsions and, with this, they deliver some advantages, especially in the area of biomedicine. In this review, the effects and characteristics of microparticles in the preparation and properties of Pickering emulsions are presented. The objective of this review is to provide a theoretical basis for a broader type of emulsion, in addition to reviewing the main aspects related to the mechanisms and applications to promote its stability. Through this review, we highlight the use of this type of emulsion and its excellent properties as permeability promoters of solid particles, providing ideal results for local drug delivery and use in Pickering emulsions.

Keywords: Pickering emulsion; application; solid particles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Position of a solid particle at the drop interface with a contact angle of less than 90° corresponding to the formation of an O/W emulsion. (B) Position of a solid particle at the drop interface with a contact angle of greater than 90° corresponding to the formation of a W/O emulsion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the homogenization process using a rotor-stator and, as a result, the formation of a set of spherical particles adhered to the oil interface, which provides stability.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Operating scheme of a high-pressure homogenizer (adapted from Ref. [64]).
Figure 4
Figure 4
A schematic demonstration of the ultrasound device for emulsification.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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