On the preparation and antibacterial activity of emulsions stabilized with nanocellulose particles
Journal article, 2016

Formation, droplet size and antibacterial activity of emulsions stabilized with cellulose particles, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were investigated. The effects of the oil-in-water ratio (10/90 to 40/60), type and concentration of cellulose (0.1–1.0%) on the physico-chemical characteristics of the emulsions containing three different antimicrobial oils (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and limonene) were studied. Emulsions were characterized in terms of emulsification indexes, encapsulation efficiency and droplet size and distribution. Stability during the eight-week storage period and after mild centrifugation were evaluated. The results showed that it is possible to produce oil-in-water CNC and MFC-stabilized Pickering emulsions with antimicrobial oil content as high as 40 wt%. Furthermore, emulsions showed good stability during storage and towards mild centrifugation. Antibacterial activity of the emulsions investigated using agar diffusion and broth dilution methods was mainly influenced by the type and content of antibacterial oil. Type of nanocellulose particles used for stabilization of emulsion droplets showed only a minor contribution, when high concentrations of oil were used. Results also suggested that the antibacterial effect was dependent primarily on direct interaction between emulsion droplets and pathogens, while the impact of free, non-encapsulated oil was only marginal. However, when low concentrations of emulsion were used, the role of the nature of nanocellulose could be evidenced, and MFC-stabilized emulsions exhibited better antibacterial activities compared to CNC-stabilized.

Pickering emulsions

Antibacterial activity

Cellulose nanocrystals

Microfibrillated cellulose

Author

Veronika Mikulcová

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Romain Bordes

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Věra Kašpárková

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Food Hydrocolloids

0268-005X (ISSN)

Vol. 61 780-792

Subject Categories

Chemical Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.foodhyd.2016.06.031

More information

Created

10/7/2017