Nanoemulsions: Using emulsifiers from natural sources replacing synthetic ones—A review

Ultrasonic high-yield extraction of non-toxic fucose-containing Abroma augusta polysaccharide bearing emulsifying properties

BACKGROUND

The stem of Abroma augusta contains mucilaginous polysaccharides having numerous ethnomedicinal properties. The present work aimed to develop a scalable ultrasonic-assisted aqueous Abroma augusta mucilage (AAM) extraction (UAE) method and further explores its emulsifying property and toxicity concern.

RESULTS

The combination of ultrasonic power (750 W), solid-to-liquid ratio (1:15) and temperature (348 K) gave the highest extraction yield of 2.28% with a diffusivity value of 3.85 × 10-9 m2 s-1, which was higher than aqueous extraction method using a kinetic model based on Fick's second law of diffusion. The extracted polysaccharide showed no toxicity as measured through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay on RAW cell line. Additionally, the polysaccharide over its critical micelle concentration (400, 500, 600 and 700 μg mL-1) offered emulsifying properties with 0.5%, 1% and 5% oil (v/v). The emulsion with a polysaccharide concentration of 600 μg mL-1 with 5% oil (v/v) provides stability against coalescence for 3 days.

CONCLUSION

The overall findings indicated that UAE of AAM polysaccharide can be used for an efficient extraction method, and the obtained polysaccharide is nontoxic in nature and bears emulsifying properties. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancing cellulose-stabilized multiphase/Pickering emulsions systems: A molecular dynamics perspective

Cellulose stabilized multiphase systems (CSMS) have garnered significant attention due to their ultra-stabilization mechanism and vast potential across different fields. CSMS have found valuable applications in scientific disciplines, including Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Material Science, and related fields, owing to their beneficial attributes such as sustainability, safety, renewability, and non-toxicity. Furthermore, MPS exhibit novel characteristics that enable multiple mechanisms to produce HIPEs, aerogels, and oleogels revealing undiscovered information. Therefore, to explore the undiscovered phenomena of MPS, molecular level insights using advanced simulation/computational approaches are essential. The molecular dynamics simulation (MDS), play a valuable role in analyzing the interactions of ternary interphase. The MDS have successfully quantified the interactions of MPS by generating, visualizing, and analyzing trajectories. Through MDS, researchers have explored CSMS at the molecular level and advanced their applications in 3D printing, packaging, preparation, drug delivery, encapsulation, biosensors, electronic devices, biomaterials, and energy conservation. This review highlights the remarkable advancements in CSMS over the past five years, along with contributions of MDS in evaluating the relationships that dictate the functionality and properties of CSMS. By integrating experimental and computational methods, we underscore the potential to innovate and optimize these multiphase systems for groundbreaking applications.

Spatially selective catalysis of OSA starch for preparation of Pickering emulsions with high emulsification properties

The traditional strategies of chemical catalysis and biocatalysis for producing octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch can only randomly graft hydrophobic groups on the surface of starch, resulting in unsatisfactory emulsification performance. In this work, a lipase-inorganic hybrid catalytic system with multi-scale flower like structure is designed and applied to spatially selective catalytic preparation of ocenyl succinic anhydride modified starch. With the appropriate floral morphology and petal density, lipases distributed in the "flower center" can selectively catalyze the grafting of hydrophobic groups in a spatial manner, the hydrophobic groups are concentrated on one side of starch particles. The obtaining OSA starch exhibits excellent emulsifying property, and the pickering emulsion has good protective effect on the embedded curcumin. This work provides a direction for the development of high-performance starch-based emulsifiers for the food and pharmaceutical industries, which is of great significance for improving the preparation and emulsification theory research of modified starch.

Physicochemical and Emulsifying Properties of Melia azedarach Gum

Naturally occurring hydrophilic colloids are versatile excipients in drug delivery systems. They are often used as coating materials, disintegrating agents, binders, emulsion stabilizers, and other applications. This study sought to investigate the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of gum extracted from Melia azedarach (MA). The gum was harvested, authenticated, and purified using ethanol precipitation. Physicochemical, microbial, and proximate analyses were performed on the purified gum. Oil of olive emulsions containing different amounts (5-15%w/v) of the gum as emulsifiers were prepared by homogenization. The zeta potential, creaming index, and average droplet size of products were assessed. The effects of pH changes, temperature, and monovalent and divalent electrolytes on the stability of the emulsions were also investigated. The yield of the gum after purification was 68.3%w/w. The gum has low moisture content and good swelling properties. Lead, copper, cadmium, and mercury were not detected. Emulsions containing 15%w/v of acacia or MA gum had the smallest average (Z-average) droplet size (acacia: 1.837 ± 0.420 μm; MA gum: 2.791 ± 0.694 μm) and the highest zeta potential (acacia: -30.45 mV; MA gum: -32.867 mV). Increasing the concentration of the gums increased the emulsion viscosity with MA gum emulsions being more viscous than corresponding acacia emulsions. MA gum emulsions had higher emulsion capacity and stability but lower creaming index relative to acacia gum emulsions of similar concentrations. Potassium chloride (KCl) reduced zeta potential but increased Z-average for emulsions prepared with either gum. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) produced a similar but more pronounced effect. When the pH was decreased from 10 to 2, the zeta potential of the droplets was reduced, but the droplet size of emulsions prepared from either gum was increased. Increasing temperature from 25 to 90°C produced no significant (p value >0.9999) change in droplet size. These findings suggest that MA gum is a capable emulsifying agent at 15%w/v.

Enhancing cannabidiol bioaccessibility using ionic liquid as emulsifier to produce nanosystems: Characterization of structures, cytotoxicity assessment, and in vitro digestion

The emulsifying potential of a biocompatible ionic liquid (IL) to produce lipid-based nanosystems developed to enhance the bioaccessibility of cannabidiol (CBD) was investigated. The IL (cholinium oleate) was evaluated at concentrations of 1 % and 2 % to produce nanoemulsions (NE-IL) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC-IL) loaded with CBD. The IL concentration of 1 % demonstrated to be sufficient to produce both NE-IL and NLC-IL with excellent stability properties, entrapment efficiency superior to 99 %, and CBD retention rate of 100 % during the storage period evaluated (i.e. 28 days at 25 °C). The in vitro digestion evaluation demonstrated that the NLC-IL provided a higher stability to the CBD, while the NE-IL improved the CBD bioaccessibility, which was mainly related to the composition of the lipid matrices used to obtain each nanosystem. Finally, it was observed that the CBD cytotoxicity was reduced when the compound was entrapped into both nanosystems.

Effects of Emulsifiers on Physicochemical Properties and Carotenoids Bioaccessibility of Sea Buckthorn Juice

The need to improve the physicochemical properties of sea buckthorn juice and the bioavailability of carotenoids is a major challenge for the field. The effects of different natural emulsifiers, such as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), tea saponins (TSs) and rhamnolipids (Rha), on the physical and chemical indexes of sea buckthorn juice were studied. The particle size of sea buckthorn juice and the carotenoids content were used as indicators for evaluation. The effects of different addition levels of MCT, Rha and TS on the bioavailability of carotenoids in sea buckthorn juice were investigated by simulating human in vitro digestion tests. The results showed that those emulsifiers, MCT, Rha and TS, can significantly reduce the particle size and particle size distribution of sea buckthorn juice, improve the color, increase the soluble solids content, turbidity and physical stability and protect the carotenoids from degradation. When the addition amount of Rha was 1.5%, the total carotenoids content (TCC) of sea buckthorn juice increased by 45.20%; when the addition amount of TS was 1.5%, the total carotenoids content (TCC) of sea buckthorn juice increased by 37.95%. Furthermore, the bioaccessibility of carotenoids was increased from 36.90 ± 2.57% to 54.23 ± 4.17% and 61.51 ± 4.65% through in vitro digestion by Rha and TS addition, respectively. However, the total carotenoids content (TCC) of sea buckthorn juice and bioaccessibility were not significantly different with the addition of MCT. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate the potential of natural emulsifiers, such as MCT, Rha and TS, to significantly enhance the physicochemical properties and bioavailability of carotenoids in sea buckthorn juice, offering promising opportunities for the development of functional beverages with improved nutritional benefits.

Enhancing Bovine Embryo Development In Vitro Using Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsions as Specific Carriers for Essential Lipids

Worldwide meat consumption and production have nearly quintupled in the last 60 years. In this context, research and the application of new technologies related to animal reproduction have evolved in an accelerated way. The objective of the present study was to apply nanoemulsions (NEs) as carriers of lipids to feed bovine embryos in culture media and verify their impact on the development of embryos produced in vitro. The NEs were characterized by particle size, polydispersity, size distribution, physical stability, morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface tension, density, pH, and rheological behavior. The NEs were prepared by the emulsification/evaporation technique. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to optimize the NE fabrication parameters. The three optimized formulations used in the embryo application showed an emulsion stability index (ESI) between 0.046 and 0.086, which reflects high stability. The mean droplet diameter analyzed by laser diffraction was approximately 70-80 nm, suggesting a possible transit across the embryonic zona pellucida with pores of an average 90 nm in diameter. AFM images clearly confirm the morphology of spherical droplets with a mean droplet diameter of less than 100 nm. The optimized formulations added during the higher embryonic genome activation phase in bovine embryos enhanced early embryonic development.

The Potency of Maillard Conjugates Containing Whey Protein as Natural Emulsifier

There is a continued need for the advancement of natural emulsifiers to replace synthetic emulsifiers, driven by human health concerns. This study is aimed at producing protein-polysaccharide conjugates through the Maillard reaction and at evaluating its ability as an emulsifier based on its emulsifying properties. The proteins used in this study were bovine milk whey protein and soy protein isolates, while the polysaccharides were maltodextrin and pectin. The protein-polysaccharide conjugation used a Maillard reaction under dry heating conditions. The protein and polysaccharide mass ratios were 1 : 2 and 1 : 3. The results showed that the types of proteins and polysaccharides and their mass affect the surface tension of the conjugate products. Whey protein-pectin conjugates with a mass ratio of 1 : 2 and a concentration of 1% had the lowest surface tension at 43.77 dyne/cm2. This conjugate sample also showed the highest emulsifying index at 27.20 m2/g. The conjugate powder containing pectin as a polysaccharide showed better emulsifying activity than that of those containing maltodextrin. However, the smallest droplet size of the emulsion (256.5 nm) resulted from the emulsification process using whey protein-maltodextrin conjugates as an emulsifier. The FTIR and gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis confirmed the conjugation formation. In general, protein-polysaccharide conjugates containing whey protein could potentially act as a natural emulsifier for food.

Green Synthesis of Blumea balsamifera Oil Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Natural Emulsifiers and Its Effect on Wound Healing

In this study, we developed a green and multifunctional bioactive nanoemulsion (BBG-NEs) of Blumea balsamifera oil using Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) as natural emulsifiers. The process parameters were optimized using particle size, PDI, and zeta potential as evaluation parameters. The physicochemical properties, stability, transdermal properties, and bioactivities of the BBG-NEs under optimal operating conditions were investigated. Finally, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism underlying its wound-healing properties. After parameter optimization, BBG-NEs exhibited excellent stability and demonstrated favorable in vitro transdermal properties. Furthermore, it displayed enhanced antioxidant and wound-healing effects. SD rats wound-healing experiments demonstrated improved scab formation and accelerated healing in the BBG-NE treatment relative to BBO and emulsifier groups. Pharmacological network analyses showed that AKT1, CXCL8, and EGFR may be key targets of BBG-NEs in wound repair. The results of a scratch assay and Western blotting assay also demonstrated that BBG-NEs could effectively promote cell migration and inhibit inflammatory responses. These results indicate the potential of the developed BBG-NEs for antioxidant and skin wound applications, expanding the utility of natural emulsifiers. Meanwhile, this study provided a preliminary explanation of the potential mechanism of BBG-NEs to promote wound healing through network pharmacology and molecular docking, which provided a basis for the mechanistic study of green multifunctional nanoemulsions.

Enhanced emulsification performance and interfacial properties of Janus-like rapeseed cruciferin through asymmetric acylation modification

Plant protein emulsifiers, particularly rapeseed protein isolate with its superior amino acid composition and predominantly globular protein, have captured significant interest in the food industry. Nonetheless, the application of these proteins has been stymied by their lackluster emulsification properties. Addressing this challenge, our study implements an innovative asymmetric acylation technique to modify the surface of rapeseed cruciferin (RC), morphing it into a structure resembling Janus nanoparticles. This alteration amplifies the emulsification prowess of RC by a remarkable 2.7 times compared to its natural form, and 1.43 times over its conventionally acylated counterpart. The asymmetrically acylated RC, marked by a distinctive three-phase contact angle of 90.4°, manifests an outstanding amphiphilic character. Moreover, it surpasses both the natural and conventionally acylated RC in terms of diffusion, penetration, and rearrangement rates, as well as protein concentration at the oil-water interface. Compared to commonly used emulsifiers in the food industry, such as lecithin and soy protein, the asymmetrically acylated RC stands out, stabilizing emulsions with the tiniest particle size and effectively staving off emulsion stratification over a longer duration. This study underscores that asymmetric acylation serves as a reliable methodology for producing efficient plant protein emulsifiers, considerably amplifying their utility in the food industry.

Plant-based essential oil encapsulated in nanoemulsions and their enhanced therapeutic applications: An overview

In recent years, studies on the formulation of nanoemulsions have been the focus of attention due to their potential applicability in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agricultural industries. Nanoemulsions can be formulated using ingredients approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which assures their safety profiles to a great extent. Bioactive compounds such as essential oils although have strong biological properties and antimicrobial compounds, their usage is restricted due to their high volatility, instability, and hydrophobic nature. Therefore, nanoemulsion as carrier vehicle can be used to encapsulate essential oils to obtain stable and enhanced physicochemical characteristics of the essential oils. This review details the structure, formulation, and characterization techniques used for nanoemulsions, with a focus on the essential oil-based nanoemulsions which have the potential to be used as antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutics.

Nanoemulsion based edible coatings for quality retention of fruits and vegetables-decoding the basics and advancements in last decade

Fruits and vegetables (F&V) are highly perishable and have important contributions to nutritional and economic sustainability. Although the developing nations have shown an immense increase in the production of horticultural commodities, the post-harvest losses are significant and have an adverse impact on the resources, economy, and environment as well. Nanoemulsion-based carriers are recognized for their diversity, natural origin, and immense potential to restrict losses while boosting the functional attributes of produce. The recent findings attest to nanoemulsions potential for extending the shelf life, managing quality, and reducing the losses of the perishables for sustainable livelihood of the farmers. However, further studies are required to evaluate the biological fate, safety, or potential toxicity of the nanoemulsion-based edible coatings. This review precisely focuses on various matrices used in the production of nanoemulsions, fabrication methods, characterization techniques, and the use of natural emulsifiers instead of chemicals. The future research focus stresses on developing low-cost fabrication techniques for nanoemulsion, improvement of the transmission properties i. e gas transmission rate (GTR), water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and enhancing the performance of monolayer, bilayer, and other composite nanoemulsion base films. This beyond reducing the postharvest losses shall also restrict burden of the food waste management and related environmental issues at the same time.

Xanthan and gum acacia modified olive oil based nanoemulsion as a controlled delivery vehicle for topical formulations

In this study, olive oil nanoemulsion modified with xanthan gum and gum acacia was explored as a potential controlled topical delivery vehicle. Oil-in-water nanoemulsion formulated with optimized composition of olive oil, tween 80, and water was used as the drug carrier and further modified with gum. Effect of gum on nanoemulsion different physiochemical characteristics, stability, rheology, drug release and encapsulation efficiency were investigated. Results showed that developed nanoemulsion behaved as low viscosity Newtonian fluid and released 100 % drug within 6 h. Modification with xanthan and gum acacia had significantly improved formulation viscosity, drug encapsulation efficiency (>85 %) and controlled drug release up to 40 % with release pattern following Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Additionally, xanthan gum modified formulation exhibited shear thinning rheology by forming an extended network in the continuous phase, whereas gum acacia modified formulation behaved as Newtonian fluid at high shear rate (>200 s-1). Furthermore, xanthan gum modified formulations had improved zeta potential, stability, monodispersity, and hemocompatibility and showed high antibacterial activity against S. aureus than gum acacia modified formulations. These results indicate the higher potential of xanthan gum modified formulation as a topical delivery vehicle. Moreover, skin irritation test demonstrated the safety of developed formulations for topical application.

Applications of Plant Bioactive Compounds as Replacers of Synthetic Additives in the Food Industry

According to the Codex Alimentarius, a food additive is any substance that is incorporated into a food solely for technological or organoleptic purposes during the production of that food. Food additives can be of synthetic or natural origin. Several scientific evidence (in vitro studies and epidemiological studies like the controversial Southampton study published in 2007) have pointed out that several synthetic additives may lead to health issues for consumers. In that sense, the actual consumer searches for "Clean Label" foods with ingredient lists clean of coded additives, which are rejected by the actual consumer, highlighting the need to distinguish synthetic and natural codded additives from the ingredient lists. However, this natural approach must focus on an integrated vision of the replacement of chemical substances from the food ingredients, food contact materials (packaging), and their application on the final product. Hence, natural plant alternatives are hereby presented, analyzing their potential success in replacing common synthetic emulsifiers, colorants, flavorings, inhibitors of quality-degrading enzymes, antimicrobials, and antioxidants. In addition, the need for a complete absence of chemical additive migration to the food is approached through the use of plant-origin bioactive compounds (e.g., plant essential oils) incorporated in active packaging.

Effect of Molecular Weight on the Structural and Emulsifying Characteristics of Bovine Bone Protein Hydrolysate

The emulsifying capacity of bovine bone protein extracted using high-pressure hot water (HBBP) has been determined to be good. Nevertheless, given that HBBP is a blend of peptides with a broad range of molecular weights, the distinction in emulsifying capacity between polypeptide components with high and low molecular weights is unclear. Therefore, in this study, HBBP was separated into three molecular weight components of 10-30 kDa (HBBP 1), 5-10 kDa (HBBP 2), and <5 kDa (HBBP 3) via ultrafiltration, and the differences in their structures and emulsifying properties were investigated. The polypeptide with the highest molecular weight displayed the lowest endogenous fluorescence intensity, the least solubility in an aqueous solution, and the highest surface hydrophobicity index. Analysis using laser confocal Raman spectroscopy showed that with an increase in polypeptide molecular weight, the α-helix and β-sheet contents in the secondary structure of the polypeptide molecule increased significantly. Particle size, rheological characteristics, and laser confocal microscopy were used to characterize the emulsion made from peptides of various molecular weights. High-molecular-weight peptides were able to provide a more robust spatial repulsion and thicker interfacial coating in the emulsion, which would make the emulsion more stable. The above results showed that the high-molecular-weight polypeptide in HBBP effectively improved the emulsion stability when forming an emulsion. This study increased the rate at which bovine bone was utilized and provided a theoretical foundation for the use of bovine bone protein as an emulsifier in the food sector.

Cellulose Nanocrystal-Based Emulsion of Thyme Essential Oil: Preparation and Characterisation as Sustainable Crop Protection Tool

Essential oil-based pesticides, which contain antimicrobial and antioxidant molecules, have potential for use in sustainable agriculture. However, these compounds have limitations such as volatility, poor water solubility, and phytotoxicity. Nanoencapsulation, through processes like micro- and nanoemulsions, can enhance the stability and bioactivity of essential oils. In this study, thyme essential oil from supercritical carbon dioxide extraction was selected as a sustainable antimicrobial tool and nanoencapsulated in an oil-in-water emulsion system. The investigated protocol provided high-speed homogenisation in the presence of cellulose nanocrystals as stabilisers and calcium chloride as an ionic crosslinking agent. Thyme essential oil was characterised via GC-MS and UV-vis analysis, indicating rich content in phenols. The cellulose nanocrystal/essential oil ratio and calcium chloride concentration were varied to tune the nanoemulsions' physical-chemical stability, which was investigated via UV-vis, direct observation, dynamic light scattering, and Turbiscan analysis. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the nanosized droplet formation. The nanoemulsion resulting from the addition of crosslinked nanocrystals was very stable over time at room temperature. It was evaluated for the first time on Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi, the causal agent of olive knot disease. In vitro tests showed a synergistic effect of the formulation components, and in vivo tests on olive seedlings demonstrated reduced bacterial colonies without any phytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that crosslinked cellulose nanocrystal emulsions can enhance the stability and bioactivity of thyme essential oil, providing a new tool for crop protection.

Can droplet size influence antibacterial activity in ultrasound-prepared essential oil nanoemulsions?

Essential oil nanoemulsion may have improved antibacterial properties over pure oil and can be used for food preservation. Ultrasonic cavitation is the most common mechanism for producing nanoemulsions, and the impact of processing parameters on droplet properties needs to be elucidated. A systematic literature search was performed in four databases (Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed), and 987 articles were found, 16 of which were eligible for the present study. A meta-analysis was performed to qualitatively assess which process parameters (power, sonication time, essential oil, and tween 80 concentration) can influence the final droplet size and polydispersity and how droplet size is associated with antibacterial activity. We observed that power, essential oil, and tween 80 concentrations added during processing are the critical variables for forming smaller droplets. Ratios of up to 3:1 (surfactant:oil) can produce droplets smaller than 180 nm with antibacterial properties superior to pure oil or isolated compounds. The improved properties of nanoemulsions are associated with the size and chemical composition of the droplet since the proportion of the hydrophobic core (EO) and the hydrophilic outer layer (Tween 80) directly influences the antibacterial mechanism of action.

Research progress on chitin/chitosan-based emulsion delivery systems and their application in lipid digestion regulation

Excessive lipid intake is linked to an elevated risk of health problems. However, reducing lipid contents may influence food structure and flavor. Some alternatives are needed to control the lipid absorption. Emulsions are common carriers for lipids, which can control the hydrolysis and absorption of lipids. Chitin (Ch) and chitosan (CS) are natural polysaccharides with good biodegradability, biocompatibility, and unique cationic properties. They have been reported to be able to delay lipolysis, which can be regarded as one of the most promising agents that regulates lipid digestion (LiD). The application of Ch/CS and their derivatives in emulsions are summarized in this review with a focus on their performances and mechanisms for LiD regulation, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for the development of novel Ch/CS emulsions, and the regulation of LiD. A reasonable design of emulsion interface can provide its resistance to the external environment and then control LiD. The properties of emulsion interface are the key factors affecting LiD. Therefore, systematic study on the relationship between Ch/CS-based emulsion structure and LiD can not only instruct the reasonable design of emulsion interface to accurately regulate LiD, but also provide scientific guidelines for applying Ch/CS in functional food, medicine and other fields.

Recent Trends in Active Packaging Using Nanotechnology to Inhibit Oxidation and Microbiological Growth in Muscle Foods

Muscle foods are highly perishable products that require the use of additives to inhibit lipid and protein oxidation and/or the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The reduction or replacement of additives used in the food industry is a current trend that requires the support of active-packaging technology to overcome novel challenges in muscle-food preservation. Several nano-sized active substances incorporated in the polymeric matrix of muscle-food packaging were discussed (nanocarriers and nanoparticles of essential oils, metal oxide, extracts, enzymes, bioactive peptides, surfactants, and bacteriophages). In addition, the extension of the shelf life and the inhibitory effects of oxidation and microbial growth obtained during storage were also extensively revised. The use of active packaging in muscle foods to inhibit oxidation and microbial growth is an alternative in the development of clean-label meat and meat products. Although the studies presented serve as a basis for future research, it is important to emphasize the importance of carrying out detailed studies of the possible migration of potentially toxic additives, incorporated in active packaging developed for muscle foods under different storage conditions.

Films Based on Biopolymers Incorporated with Active Compounds Encapsulated in Emulsions: Properties and Potential Applications-A Review

The rising consumer demand for safer, healthier, and fresher-like food has led to the emergence of new concepts in food packaging. In addition, the growing concern about environmental issues has increased the search for materials derived from non-petroleum sources and biodegradable options. Thus, active films based on biopolymers loaded with natural active compounds have great potential to be used as food packaging. However, several lipophilic active compounds are difficult to incorporate into aqueous film-forming solutions based on polysaccharides or proteins, and the hydrophilic active compounds require protection against oxidation. One way to incorporate these active compounds into film matrices is to encapsulate them in emulsions, such as microemulsions, nanoemulsions, Pickering emulsions, or double emulsions. However, emulsion characteristics can influence the properties of active films, such as mechanical, barrier, and optical properties. This review addresses the advantages of using emulsions to encapsulate active compounds before their incorporation into biopolymeric matrices, the main characteristics of these emulsions (emulsion type, droplet size, and emulsifier nature), and their influence on active film properties. Furthermore, we review the recent applications of the emulsion-charged active films in food systems.

Surface Functionalization of Sugarcane-Bagasse-Derived Cellulose Nanocrystal for Pickering Emulsion Gel: Microstructural Properties and Stability Efficiency

An environmentally friendly Pickering stabilizer was developed by upcycling sugarcane bagasse (SCB) into a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), which was subjected to surface modification by using quaternary ammonium compound to enhance its amphiphilic characteristics. The changes in microstructural properties of modified cellulose nanocrystal (m-CNC), such as surface functional group, thermal stability, surface morphology, elemental composition, and particle size distribution were investigated. Results indicated the success of quaternary ammonium compound grafting with the presence of a trimethyl-alkyl chain on the cellulose structure, while the m-CNC preserves the needle-like nanoparticles in length of ~534 nm and width of ~20 nm. The colloidal profile of m-CNC-stabilized oil-water emulsion gels with different concentrations of m-CNC (1-5 wt%), and oil:water (O:W) ratios (3:7, 5:5, 7:3) were examined. The emulsion gel stability study indicated that the optimal concentration of m-CNC (3 wt%) was able to stabilize all the emulsion gels at different O:W ratios with an emulsion index of >80% for 3 months. It is the minimum concentration of m-CNC to form a robust colloidal network around the small oil droplets, leading to the formation of stable emulsion gels. The emulsion gel with O:W ratio (3:7) with 3 wt% of m-CNC rendered the best m-CNC-oil-droplets dispersion. The m-CNC effectively retained the size of oil droplets (<10 μm for 3 months storage) against coalescence and creaming by creating a steric barrier between the two immiscible phases. Furthermore, the emulsion gel exhibited the highest viscosity and storage modulus which was able to prevent creaming or sedimentation of the emulsion gels.

Fabrication and Biological Activities of All-in-One Composite Nanoemulsion Based on Blumea balsamifera Oil-Tea Tree Oil

Nanoemulsion is a new multi-component drug delivery system; the selection of different oil phases can give it special physiological activity, and play the role of "medicine and pharmaceutical excipients all-in-one". In this paper, we used glycyrrhizic acid as the natural surfactant, and Blumea balsamifera oil (BB) and tea tree oil (TTO) as the mixed oil phase, to obtain a new green functional composite nanoemulsion. Using the average particle size and polydispersion index (PDI) as the evaluation criteria, the effects of the oil ratio, oil content, glycyrrhizic acid concentration, and ultrasonic time on the nanoemulsion were systematically investigated. The stability and physicochemical properties and biological activities of BB-TTO NEs prepared via the optimum formulation were characterized. The optimal prescription was BB: TTO = 1:1, 5% oil phase, 0.7% glycyrrhizic acid, and 5 min ultrasonication time. The mean particle size, PDI, and zeta potential were 160.01 nm, 0.125, and -50.94 mV, respectively. The nanoemulsion showed non-significant changes in stability after centrifugation, dilution, and 120 days storage. These nanoemulsions were found to exhibit potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BB-TTO NEs against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is 2975 μg/mL, 2975 μg/mL, and 5950 μg/mL, respectively. A lower level of inflammatory cell infiltration and proportion of fibrosis were found in the synovial tissue of AIA rats treated with BB-TTO NEs. These findings demonstrate that the BB-TTO NEs produced in this study have significant potential for usage in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory areas.

Influence of droplet size on the antibacterial efficacy of citral and citronella oil nanoemulsions in polysaccharide coated fresh-cut apples

Fresh-cut fruits are highly perishable and susceptible to bacterial contamination. Polysaccharides edible coating loaded with essential oils nanoemulsions have the potential to extend shelf life and improve quality of fruits. The effectiveness of this approach is dependent on the properties of the nanoemulsions, such as droplet size (DS) and stability. This study aimed to optimize the production of citral (CT) and citronella oil (CTO) nanoemulsions (CT-CTO-NEs) incorporated in edible coating film to be used as natural antimicrobial agent in fresh-cut apples. After testing different combinations of surfactant (tween 80) and cosurfactant (propylene glycol) to obtain stable oil-in-water (o/w) nanoemulsions, the results demonstrated that optimized CT-CTO-NEs with DS less than 500 nm have been successfully achieved with high stability for 3 weeks at 4 °C. In addition, CT-CTO-NEs were obtained by In situ formation under magnetic stirring without applying complex high shear homogenization processes. Desired stability of CT-CTO-NEs also has been achieved within semi-solid matrix (sodium alginate cross-linked film). The relationship between DS and antibacterial activity was observed, with the smallest DS (< 100 nm) showing the highest antibacterial efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. These results emphasize the importance of DS in the effectiveness of CT-CTO-NEs as an antibacterial coating for fresh-cut fruits.

Recent advances in encapsulation of fat-soluble vitamins using polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids: A review on delivery systems, formulation, and industrial applications

Fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) offer a range of beneficial properties as important nutrients in human nutrition. However, the high susceptibility to environmental conditions such as high temperature, light, and oxygen leads to the degradation of these compounds. This review highlights the different formulations underlying the encapsulation of FSVs in biopolymer (polysaccharide and protein) and lipid-based micro or nanocarriers for potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. In particular, the function of these carrier systems in terms of encapsulation efficiency, stability, bioavailability, and bio-accessibility is critically discussed. Recently, tremendous attention has been paid to encapsulating FSVs in commercial applications. According to the chemical nature of the active compound, the vigilant selection of delivery formulation, method of encapsulation, and final application (type of food) are the key important factors to be considered in the encapsulation of FSVs to ensure a high loading capacity, stability, bioavailability, and bio-accessibility. Future studies are recommended on the effect of different vitamin types and micro and nano encapsulate sizes on bioaccessibility and biocompatibility through in vitro/in vivo studies. Moreover, the toxicity and safety evaluation of encapsulated FSVs in human health should be evaluated before commercial application in food and pharmaceuticals.

Emulsion-Based Delivery Systems to Enhance the Functionality of Bioactive Compounds: Towards the Use of Ingredients from Natural, Sustainable Sources

In recent years, the trend in the population towards consuming more natural and sustainable foods has increased significantly. This claim has led to the search for new sources of bioactive compounds and extraction methods that have less impact on the environment. Moreover, the formulation of systems to protect these compounds is also focusing on the use of ingredients of natural origin. This article reviews novel, natural alternative sources of bioactive compounds with a positive impact on sustainability. In addition, it also contains information on the most recent studies based on the use of natural (especially from plants) emulsifiers in the design of emulsion-based delivery systems to protect bioactive compounds. The properties of these natural-based emulsion-delivery systems, as well as their functionality, including in vitro and in vivo studies, are also discussed. This review provides relevant information on the latest advances in the development of emulsion delivery systems based on ingredients from sustainable natural sources.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsion wash inactivates Salmonella Enteritidis on shelled eggs without affecting egg color

Salmonella Enteritidis is a major foodborne pathogen that causes enteric illnesses in humans, primarily through the consumption of contaminated poultry meat and eggs. Despite implementation of traditional disinfection approaches to reduce S. Enteritidis contamination, egg-borne outbreaks continue to occur, raising public health concerns and adversely affecting the popularity and profitability for the poultry industry. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status phytochemicals such as Trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) have previously shown to exhibit anti-Salmonella efficacy, however, the low solubility of TC is a major hurdle in its adoption as an egg wash treatment. Therefore, the present study investigated the efficacy of Trans-cinnamaldehyde nanoemulsions (TCNE) prepared with emulsifiers Tween 80 (Tw.80) or Gum Arabic and lecithin (GAL) as dip treatments, at 34°C, for reducing S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs in presence or absence of 5% chicken litter. In addition, the efficacy of TCNE dip treatments in reducing trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis across shell barrier was investigated. The effect of wash treatments on shell color were evaluated on d 0, 1, 7, and 14 of refrigerated storage. TCNE-Tw.80 or GAL treatments (0.06, 0.12, 0.24, 0.48%) were effective in inactivating S. Enteritidis by at least 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min of washing time (P < 0.05). In presence of organic matter, nanoemulsions (0.48%) reduced S. Enteritidis counts by ∼ 2 to 2.5 log cfu/egg as early as 1 min, (P < 0.05). Nanoemulsion wash also inhibited trans-shell migration of S. Enteritidis, as compared to control (P < 0.05). The nanoemulsion wash treatments did not affect shell color (P > 0.05). Results suggest that TCNE could potentially be used as an antimicrobial wash to reduce S. Enteritidis on shelled eggs, although further studies investigating the effect of TCNE wash treatments on organoleptic properties of eggs are necessary.

Effect of the Emulsifier Used in Dunaliella salina-Based Nanoemulsions Formulation on the β-Carotene Absorption and Metabolism in Rats

SCOPE

Microalgae such as Dunaliella salina are a potential sustainable source of natural β-carotene due to their fast growth and high adaptability to environmental conditions. This work aims to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of β-carotene from this alga into different emulsifier-type nanoemulsions (soybean lecithin [SBL], whey protein isolate [WPI], sodium caseinate [SDC]) on its absorption, metabolization, and biodistribution in rats.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Nanoemulsions formulated with different emulsifiers at 8% concentration are obtained by five cycles of microfluidization at 130 mPa, then expose to an in vitro digestion or orally administer to rats. Feeding rats with nanoemulsions improves β-carotene uptake compared to control suspension, especially using SDC and WPI as emulsifiers. A greater presence of β-carotene and retinol in the intestine, plasma, and liver is observed, being the liver the tissue that shows the highest accumulation. This fact can be a consequence of the smaller droplets that protein-nanoemulsions present compared to that with SBL in the intestine of rats, which promote faster digestibility and higher β-carotene bioaccessibility (35%-50% more) according to the in vitro observations.

CONCLUSIONS

Nanoemulsions, especially those formulated with protein emulsifiers, are effective systems for increasing β-carotene absorption, as well as retinol concentration in different rat tissues.

Soy Protein Isolate as Emulsifier of Nanoemulsified Beverages: Rheological and Physical Evaluation

The production of biologically active molecules or the addition of new bioactive ingredients in foods, thereby producing functional foods, has been improved with nanoemulsion technology. In this sense, the aim of this work was to develop nanoemulsified beverages as potential candidates for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds, whose integrity and release across the intestinal tract are controlled by the structure and stability of the interfaces. To achieve this, firstly, a by-product rich-in protein has been evaluated as a potential candidate to act as an emulsifier (chemical content, amino acid composition, solubility, ζ-potential and surface tension were evaluated). Later, emulsions with different soy protein isolate concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt%), pH values (2, 4, 6 and 8) and homogenization pressures (100, 120 and 140 PSI) were prepared using a high-pressure homogenizer after a pre-emulsion formation. Physical (stability via Backscattering and drop size evolution) and rheological (including interfacial analysis) characterizations of emulsions were carried out to characterize their potential as delivery emulsion systems. According to the results obtained, the nanoemulsions showed the best stability when the protein concentration was 2.0 wt%, pH 2.0 and 120 PSI was applied as homogenization pressure.

Inhalable Formulations to Treat Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Recent Therapies and Developments

Cancer has been the leading cause of mortalities, with lung cancer contributing 18% to overall deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers. The primary form of therapy used to treat lung cancer still includes oral and systemic administration of drugs, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Some patients have to go through a regime of combination therapy. Despite being the only available form of therapy, their use is limited due to the adverse effects, toxicity, and development of resistance over prolonged use. This led to a shift and progressive evolution into using pulmonary drug delivery systems. Being a non-invasive method of drug-administration and allowing localized delivery of drugs to cancer cells, inhalable drug delivery systems can lead to lower dosing and fewer systemic toxicities over other conventional routes. In this way, we can increase the actual local concentration of the drug in lungs, which will ultimately lead to better antitumor therapy. Nano-based systems also provide additional diagnostic advantages during lung cancer treatment, including imaging, screening, and tracking. Regardless of the advantages, pulmonary delivery is still in the early stages of development and various factors such as pharmacology, immunology, and toxicology should be taken into consideration for the development of suitable inhalable nano-based chemotherapeutic drugs. They face numerous physiological barriers such as lung retention and efficacy, and could also lead to toxicity due to prolonged exposure. Nano-carriers with a sustained drug release mechanism could help in overcoming these challenges. This review article will focus on the various inhalable formulations for targeted drug delivery, including nano-based delivery systems such as lipids, liposome, polymeric and inorganic nanocarriers, micelles, microparticles and nanoaggregates for lung cancer treatment. Various devices used in pulmonary drug delivery loaded on various nano-carriers are also discussed in detail.

Understanding of the key factors influencing the properties of emulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate

Emulsions can be easily destabilized under various conditions during preparation and storage. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the factors that influence the stability of emulsions, which is essential for their subsequent studies. Sodium caseinate (CAS) is a well-used nutritional and functional ingredient in emulsion preparation due to its good solubility and emulsifying properties. CAS-stabilized emulsions can be considered good food emulsion delivery systems, but their applications are still limited under certain conditions due to their instability to creaming and aggregation. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a complete overview of how different environmental stresses and processing conditions affect the stability of CAS-stabilized emulsions and how to improve their stability. Initially, the general properties of CAS as emulsifiers and the characterization of CAS-stabilized oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were summarized. Second, the major instability mechanisms that operate in CAS-stabilized emulsions were presented. Furthermore, the general factors such as pH, emulsifier concentration, ionic strength, oxidation, and processing conditions, affecting the stability of CAS-stabilized O/W emulsion, were discussed. On this basis, the commonly used methods for evaluating emulsion stability are introduced. Finally, state-of-the-art strategies to improve CAS-based emulsion stability are also described and summarized. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the future applications of CAS in food emulsions.

Polymeric Nanoparticles for Inhaled Vaccines

Many recent studies focus on the pulmonary delivery of vaccines as it is needle-free, safe, and effective. Inhaled vaccines enhance systemic and mucosal immunization but still faces many limitations that can be resolved using polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). This review focuses on the use of properties of PNPs, specifically chitosan and PLGA to be used in the delivery of vaccines by inhalation. It also aims to highlight that PNPs have adjuvant properties by themselves that induce cellular and humeral immunogenicity. Further, different factors influence the behavior of PNP in vivo such as size, morphology, and charge are discussed. Finally, some of the primary challenges facing PNPs are reviewed including formulation instability, reproducibility, device-related factors, patient-related factors, and industrial-level scale-up. Herein, the most important variables of PNPs that shall be defined in any PNPs to be used for pulmonary delivery are defined. Further, this study focuses on the most popular polymers used for this purpose.

Nano-delivery systems for food bioactive compounds in cancer: prevention, therapy, and clinical applications

Bioactive compounds represent a broad class of dietary metabolites derived from fruits and vegetables, such as polyphenols, carotenoids and glucosinolates with potential for cancer prevention. Curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and β-carotene have been the most widely applied bioactive compounds in chemoprevention. Lately, many approaches to encapsulating bioactive components in nano-delivery systems have improved biomolecules' stability and targeted delivery. In this review, we critically analyze nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds, including polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), liposomes, niosomes, and nanoemulsions (NEs) for potential use in cancer therapy. Efficacy studies of the nanoformulations using cancer cell lines and in vivo models and updated human clinical trials are also discussed. Nano-delivery systems were found to improve the therapeutic efficacy of bioactive molecules against various types of cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer) mainly due to the antiproliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of tumor cells. Furthermore, some bioactive compounds have promised combination therapy with standard chemotherapeutic agents, with increased tumor efficiency and fewer side effects. These opportunities were identified and developed to ensure more excellent safety and efficacy of novel herbal medicines enabling novel insights for designing nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds applied in clinical cancer therapy.

Nano-enabled plant-based colloidal delivery systems for bioactive agents in foods: Design, formulation, and application

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their dietary choices on the environment, animal welfare, and health, which is causing many of them to adopt more plant-based diets. For this reason, many sectors of the food industry are reformulating their products to contain more plant-based ingredients. This article describes recent research on the formation and application of nano-enabled colloidal delivery systems formulated from plant-based ingredients, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and phospholipids. These delivery systems include nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, nanophytosomes, and biopolymer nanoparticles. The composition, size, structure, and charge of the particles in these delivery systems can be manipulated to create novel or improved functionalities, such as improved robustness, higher optical clarity, controlled release, and increased bioavailability. There have been major advances in the design, assembly, and application of plant-based edible nanoparticles within the food industry over the past decade or so. As a result, there are now a wide range of different options available for creating delivery systems for specific applications. In the future, it will be important to establish whether these formulations can be produced using economically viable methods and provide the desired functionality in real-life applications.

Rationale utilization of phospholipid excipients: a distinctive tool for progressing state of the art in research of emerging drug carriers

Phospholipids have a high degree of biocompatibility and are deemed ideal pharmaceutical excipients in the development of lipid-based drug delivery systems, because of their unique features (permeation, solubility enhancer, emulsion stabilizer, micelle forming agent, and the key excipients in solid dispersions) they can be used in a variety of pharmaceutical drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, phytosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, etc. The primary usage of phospholipids in a colloidal pharmaceutical formulation is to enhance the drug's bioavailability with low aqueous solubility [i.e. Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) Class II drugs], Membrane penetration (i.e. BCS Class III drugs), drug uptake and release enhancement or modification, protection of sensitive active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from gastrointestinal degradation, a decrease of gastrointestinal adverse effects, and even masking of the bitter taste of orally delivered drugs are other uses. Phospholipid-based colloidal drug products can be tailored to address a wide variety of product requirements, including administration methods, cost, product stability, toxicity, and efficacy. Such formulations that are also a cost-effective method for developing medications for topical, oral, pulmonary, or parenteral administration. The originality of this review work is that we comprehensively evaluated the unique properties and special aspects of phospholipids and summarized how the individual phospholipids can be utilized in various types of lipid-based drug delivery systems, as well as listing newly marketed lipid-based products, patents, and continuing clinical trials of phospholipid-based therapeutic products. This review would be helpful for researchers responsible for formulation development and research into novel colloidal phospholipid-based drug delivery systems.

High internal phase emulsions stabilized by native and heat-treated lactoferrin-carboxymethyl chitosan complexes: Comparison of molecular and granular emulsifiers

While the high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) have been formed by food-grade biopolymers and granules have been widely reported, it is not known which components are more effective. In this work, we first used heat-treated lactoferrin (LF)-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) granules and native LF-CMCTS physical mixtures as emulsifiers to form HIPEs. The results showed that the interfacial behavior and emulsifying properties of the two complexes were controlled by the ratio of LF-CMCTS and the optimal ratio of LF to CMCTS was 1:1. Heated LF-CMCTS granules anchored to the water-oil interface and formed an elastic shell to stabilize HIPEs, while unheated LF-CMCTS complexes formed a thick film layer to stabilize HIPEs. Both HIPEs could act as delivery systems loaded with curcumin, and they showed better protection of curcumin than Tween-80 under light. This study provides a new basis for the design of LF-based HIPEs systems loaded with lipophilic food functional ingredients.

Impact of Hydro-Alcoholic Solvents on the Oil and Phenolics Extraction from Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Press-Cake and the Self-Emulsification of Extracts

The objective was to evaluate the performance of four hydro-alcoholic solvents to simultaneously extract oil and more polar molecules as phenolics, among others, to produce complex extracts that eventually could self-emulsify after solvent removal. Walnut press-cake was selected as the sourcing material. Extractions were performed as a semi-continuous operation up to a solvent-to-solid ratio of 28, with a fractional collection of the effluent. Among the solvents, labelled by their alcohol content EtOH 58, EtOH 86, iPro 60 and iPro 90 for ethanol (EtOH) and isopropanol (iPro), iPro 90 allowed to reach an oil extraction efficiency of 97% while the recovery for the other solvents was in the range of 30–40%. For both alcohols, the increase of the solvent hydration negatively influenced the oil extraction but positively increased the recovery of phenolics that reached 17.6 mg GAE/g_cake when EtOH 58 was used. Several fractions contained enough surface-active material and oil to self-assemble as emulsions. IPro 90 and EtOH 86 showed better performances in the sense that most extracts were able to emulsify, though extraction kinetics pointed out differences. The most hydrated solvents behaved equally, with extraction yields in the same range and a similar but limited emulsifying capacity of only few fractions.

A Systematic Review on Nanoencapsulation Natural Antimicrobials in Foods: In Vitro versus In Situ Evaluation, Mechanisms of Action and Implications on Physical-Chemical Quality

Natural antimicrobials (NA) have stood out in the last decade due to the growing demand for reducing chemical preservatives in food. Once solubility, stability, and changes in sensory attributes could limit their applications in foods, several studies were published suggesting micro-/nanoencapsulation to overcome such challenges. Thus, for our systematic review the Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and Pub Med databases were chosen to recover papers published from 2010 to 2020. After reviewing all titles/abstracts and keywords for the full-text papers, key data were extracted and synthesized. The systematic review proposed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy between nanoencapsulated NA (nNA) and its free form in vitro and in situ studies, since although in vitro studies are often used in studies, they present characteristics and properties that are different from those found in foods; providing a comprehensive understanding of primary mechanisms of action of the nNA in foods; and analyzing the effects on quality parameters of foods. Essential oils and nanoemulsions (10.9-100 nm) have received significant attention and showed higher antimicrobial efficacy without sensory impairments compared to free NA. Regarding nNA mechanisms: (i) nanoencapsulation provides a slow-prolonged release to promote antimicrobial action over time, and (ii) prevents interactions with food constituents that in turn impair antimicrobial action. Besides in vitro antifungal and antibacterial, nNA also demonstrated antioxidant activity-potential to shelf life extension in food. However, of the studies involving nanoencapsulated natural antimicrobials used in this review, little attention was placed on proximate composition, sensory, and rheological evaluation. We encourage further in situ studies once data differ from in vitro assay, suggesting food matrix greatly influences NA mechanisms.

Whey Proteins as a Potential Co-Surfactant with Aesculus hippocastanum L. as a Stabilizer in Nanoemulsions Derived from Hempseed Oil

The use of natural surfactants including plant extracts, plant hydrocolloids and proteins in nanoemulsion systems has received commercial interest due to demonstrated safety of use and potential health benefits of plant products. In this study, a whey protein isolate (WPI) from a byproduct of cheese production was used to stabilize a nanoemulsion formulation that contained hempseed oil and the Aesculus hippocastanum L. extract (AHE). A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to set the formulation criteria and the optimal nanoemulsion conditions, used subsequently in follow-up experiments that measured specifically emulsion droplet size distribution, stability tests and visual quality. Regression analysis showed that the concentration of HSO and the interaction between HSO and the WPI were the most significant factors affecting the emulsion polydispersity index and droplet size (nm) (p < 0.05). Rheological tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and L*a*b* color parameters were also taken to characterize the physicochemical properties of the emulsions. Emulsion systems with a higher concentration of the AHE had a potential metabolic activity up to 84% in a microbiological assay. It can be concluded from our results that the nanoemulsion system described herein is a safe and stable formulation with potential biological activity and health benefits that complement its use in the food industry.