Foams and emulsions are biphasic dispersions, which are thermodynamically metastable systems that over time tend to separate into their individual components (gas-liquid and liquid-liquid). Amphiphilic molecules are traditionally used to stabilize these systems and try to prevent or delay the destabilization mechanisms. Another type of stabilizer which can be used to stabilize foams and emulsions are partially hydrophobic particles. These particles are able to adsorb strongly at the gas–liquid and liquid–liquid interfaces to sterically hinder coarsening and coalescence, as well as to slow down drainage by changing the rheological properties of the continuous phase. These foam or emulsion systems are commonly referred as "Pickering-Ramsden" systems. The first systems were based on inorganic particles, but they are limited in their relevance to applications due to toxicity, lack of biocompatibility and biodegradability. In the last decade, there has been a shift toward the development of foams and emulsions stabilized by bio-based particles.
The goal of this Research Topic is to show the recent advances in the field of emulsions and foams stabilized by bio-based particles and to gather contributions from researchers all around the world who are working in this field for various applications such as pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. The focus of these articles will be on the potential of existing or new bio-based particles as foam or emulsion stabilizers ranging from lipid particles, polysaccharide particles, protein particles and micro/nanogels to hybrid particles based on two or more bio-based components.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions presenting new insights, novel developments, current challenges, latest discoveries, recent advances and future perspectives in the field of bio-based particles stabilizing foams and emulsions with a combination of experimental, analytical and/or computational approaches. A range of article types including original research papers, reviews, mini-reviews and perspectives will be considered for this Research Topic.
Foams and emulsions are biphasic dispersions, which are thermodynamically metastable systems that over time tend to separate into their individual components (gas-liquid and liquid-liquid). Amphiphilic molecules are traditionally used to stabilize these systems and try to prevent or delay the destabilization mechanisms. Another type of stabilizer which can be used to stabilize foams and emulsions are partially hydrophobic particles. These particles are able to adsorb strongly at the gas–liquid and liquid–liquid interfaces to sterically hinder coarsening and coalescence, as well as to slow down drainage by changing the rheological properties of the continuous phase. These foam or emulsion systems are commonly referred as "Pickering-Ramsden" systems. The first systems were based on inorganic particles, but they are limited in their relevance to applications due to toxicity, lack of biocompatibility and biodegradability. In the last decade, there has been a shift toward the development of foams and emulsions stabilized by bio-based particles.
The goal of this Research Topic is to show the recent advances in the field of emulsions and foams stabilized by bio-based particles and to gather contributions from researchers all around the world who are working in this field for various applications such as pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. The focus of these articles will be on the potential of existing or new bio-based particles as foam or emulsion stabilizers ranging from lipid particles, polysaccharide particles, protein particles and micro/nanogels to hybrid particles based on two or more bio-based components.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions presenting new insights, novel developments, current challenges, latest discoveries, recent advances and future perspectives in the field of bio-based particles stabilizing foams and emulsions with a combination of experimental, analytical and/or computational approaches. A range of article types including original research papers, reviews, mini-reviews and perspectives will be considered for this Research Topic.