Nanoemulsions are a relatively new technology that has found significant use for delivering functional chemicals such as micronutrients, flavorings, bioactive molecules, and antimicrobial agents into food and beverage products. This article focuses on applying nanoemulsions for sustainable food processing and packaging in the food sector.
What is a Nanoemulsion?
Nanoemulsions (NEs) are non-equilibrium dispersions of at least two immiscible liquids (oil and water) with droplet sizes of 10–100 nm that are kinetically stable. These nanoemulsions have revolutionized the pharmaceutical, healthcare, skincare and food businesses. They have several remarkable properties, including small droplet size, transparency, enhanced surface area, and reduced sensitivity to chemical and physical changes, making them ideal for food formulations.
Components for the Formation of Nanoemulsions
Core-shell architecture may be used to describe nanoemulsions, and it is made up of three phases: an oil phase (lipophilic), an aqueous phase (amphiphilic), and a surfactant (emulsifier/stabilizer) in precise proportions.
The features of the phases and surfactants should be considered when making nanoemulsions. Surfactants must be carefully selected to achieve an ultra-low interfacial tension (<10-3 mN/m) at the oil/water interface, essential for producing nanoemulsions. The physical and chemical parameters of the oil phase influence the development and stability of nanoemulsions.
Approaches for the Preparation of Nanoemulsions
The size of nanoemulsions is determined by the ingredients, operating circumstances, and technique of manufacture. High-energy or low-energy procedures can be used to make nanoemulsions.
Ultrasonication, microfluidization, and high-pressure homogenization are examples of high-energy procedures that use mechanical devices to disturb the oil phase, allowing it to interact with the water phase and create tiny oil droplets.
To make oil-in-water nanoemulsions, most food industries employ high-energy technologies. Nanoemulsions are made by changing the composition or temperature of the oil-water system in low-energy approaches, including phase inversion composition and phase inversion temperature.
Applications of Nanoemulsions in Food Industry
Most bioactive food components are prone to oxidative deterioration and degradation during food processing. Some bioactive have a low solubility yet a fast metabolism, lowering their bioavailability, whereas others are volatile and sensitive to processing conditions. Utilizing nanoemulsions to encapsulate bioactive chemicals in the food matrix can solve these obstacles.
Encapsulating a bioactive chemical protects it from processing conditions and prevents it from degrading for an extended period due to light, pH, temperature, and oxidative conditions encountered during storage.
Nanoemulsions are an effective method for increasing the digestibility of food and controlling the rate of release and absorption of bioactive chemicals in the gastrointestinal system.
Also, the bioavailability of active ingredients, the pharmacological activity of certain chemicals, and the solubility of pharmaceuticals are all improved by nanoemulsions.
Nanoemulsions can encapsulate useful chemicals and active substances, such as nutraceuticals and antioxidants. Additionally, they are beneficial for the controlled release of flavor components in foods.
Nanoemulsion based Food Packaging
Nanoemulsions can be integrated into coatings and films for possible food packaging applications. Foods such as dairy products, meats, fruit and vegetables can be coated with nanoemulsion-based edible nanocoatings containing flavor and coloring components, enzymes, antioxidants, and antimicrobials agents to extend their shelf life. Coatings can also limit gas exchange, moisture and food oxidation.
Commercialization of Nanoemulsion in Food Products
Nanoemulsions have been employed in food by companies like Nestle and Unilever, as well as a few start-ups. For example, Nestle’s design aids quick and uniform thawing of frozen foods in the microwave, while Unilever utilizes nanoemulsions in ice creams to reduce fat levels from 16 to 1%.
NanoceuticalsTM Slim Shake Chocolate was developed by RBC Life sciences. It utilizes the NanoClusterTM delivery method, which encapsulates dietary supplements in a nanoscale powder. LivOn Labs has created Lypo-SphericTM Vitamin C, which encapsulates Vitamin C using smart liposomal Nanospheres®.
Future Perspectives and Challenges
Nanoemulsions containing bioactive chemicals and functional food components have significant potential in the food and beverage industries. However, food grade nanoemulsions will find broad application only if their manufacturing costs are commercially viable and they fulfill the food industry’s safety regulations.
As a result, enhancing the bioactivity of the encapsulated components is essential for increasing production capacity. Additional research should be conducted to determine the biological events and the risks associated with nanoemulsion-based delivery technologies in food goods and packaging, with the goal of guaranteeing consumer safety.
News
Challenging Previous Beliefs: Japanese Scientists Discover Hidden Protector of Heart
A Japanese research team found that the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG) may protect heart tissue by modifying a key protein, potentially offering a novel therapeutic approach for ischemic heart failure. A new study [...]
Millions May Have Long COVID – So Why Can’t They Get Diagnosed?
Millions of people in England may be living with Long Covid without even realizing it. A large-scale analysis found that nearly 10% suspect they might have the condition but remain uncertain, often due to [...]
Researchers Reveal What Happens to Your Brain When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep
What if poor sleep was doing more than just making you tired? Researchers have discovered that disrupted sleep in older adults interferes with the brain’s ability to clean out waste, leading to memory problems [...]
How to prevent chronic inflammation from zombie-like cells that accumulate with age
In humans and other multicellular organisms, cells multiply. This defining feature allows embryos to grow into adulthood, and enables the healing of the many bumps, bruises and scrapes along the way. Certain factors can [...]
Breakthrough for long Covid patients who lost sense of smell
A breakthrough nasal surgery has restored the sense of smell for a dozen long Covid patients. Experts at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust successfully employed a technique typically used for correcting blocked nasal passages, [...]
Scientists Invent Plastic That Can Dissolve In Seawater In Just A Few Hours
Plastic waste and pollution in the sea have been among the most serious environmental problems for decades, causing immense damage to marine life and ecosystems. However, a breakthrough discovery may offer a game-changing solution. [...]
Muscles from the 3D printer
Swiss researchers have developed a method for printing artificial muscles out of silicone. In the future, these could be used on both humans and robots. Swiss researchers have succeeded in printing artificial muscles out [...]
Beneficial genetic changes observed in regular blood donors
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells. Understanding the differences in the mutations that accumulate [...]
Shocking Amounts of Microplastics in the Brain – It Could Be Increasing Our Risk of Dementia
The brain has higher concentrations of plastic particles compared to other organs, with increased levels found in dementia patients. In a comprehensive commentary published in Brain Medicine, researchers highlight alarming new evidence of microplastic accumulation [...]
Baffling Scientists for Centuries: New Study Unravels Mystery of Static Electricity
ISTA physicists demonstrate that contact electrification depends on the contact history of materials. For centuries, static electricity has intrigued and perplexed scientists. Now, researchers from the Waitukaitis group at the Institute of Science and [...]
Tumor “Stickiness” – Scientists Develop Potential New Way To Predict Cancer’s Spread
UC San Diego researchers have developed a device that predicts breast cancer aggressiveness by measuring tumor cell adhesion. Weakly adherent cells indicate a higher risk of metastasis, especially in early-stage DCIS. This innovation could [...]
Scientists Just Watched Atoms Move for the First Time Using AI
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking AI-driven technique that reveals the hidden movements of nanoparticles, essential in materials science, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. By integrating artificial intelligence with electron microscopy, researchers can now visualize atomic-level changes that were [...]
Scientists Sound Alarm: “Safe” Antibiotic Has Led to an Almost Untreatable Superbug
A recent study reveals that an antibiotic used for liver disease patients may increase their risk of contracting a dangerous superbug. An international team of researchers has discovered that rifaximin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic [...]
Scientists Discover Natural Compound That Stops Cancer Progression
A discovery led by OHSU was made possible by years of study conducted by University of Portland undergraduates. Scientists have discovered a natural compound that can halt a key process involved in the progression [...]
Scientists Just Discovered an RNA That Repairs DNA Damage – And It’s a Game-Changer
Our DNA is constantly under threat — from cell division errors to external factors like sunlight and smoking. Fortunately, cells have intricate repair mechanisms to counteract this damage. Scientists have uncovered a surprising role played by [...]
What Scientists Just Discovered About COVID-19’s Hidden Death Toll
COVID-19 didn’t just claim lives directly—it reshaped mortality patterns worldwide. A major international study found that life expectancy plummeted across most of the 24 analyzed countries, with additional deaths from cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, and mental [...]
