Pickering emulsions stabilized by biocompatible particles: A Review of preparation, bioapplication, and perspective

Today, particle-stabilized emulsions, often referred to as Pickering emulsions, are receiving growing attention as they are encountered in oil recovery and have long been used in personal care products and food industry. In the past 10 years the focus of the Pickering emulsion has also increasingly shifted to biomedical applications with thanks to novel syntheses of a wide range of biocompatible particle stabilizers.

Here, a brief overview of the development of biocompatible particles is given for Pickering emulsion stabilization, including alginate, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and protein-based particles. The materials capable of being prepared by templating from emulsion stabilized with biocompatible particles include colloidal capsules and hierarchically porous materials. It is hoped that the understanding gained from the recent intense activity in the field will enable more researchers to modify existing materials and design new formulations, which would be beneficial for exploring more biological applications.