New Insights into the Formulation and Polymerization of Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Natural Organic Particles

Abstract

Pickering emulsions are known to be an efficient and greener alternative to surfactant-stabilized emulsions. Particles, as key component of these systems, are responsible for their higher kinetic stability, and in recent years, the use of natural organic stabilizers has emerged as a solution to promote sustainability. By conferring them stimuli-responsiveness and/or by polymerizing the Pickering emulsion itself, the design of smart and advanced systems can be achieved. Radical polymerization has been by far the most studied polymerization route, and a wide range of materials were successfully synthesized: foams, composites, capsules, or imprinted microspheres. Not only the sustainability of these materials is improved, but also their performances and features are also generally enhanced thanks to the presence of the natural organic stabilizers. This Perspective is putting into light groundbreaking efforts in the field of the polymerization of Pickering emulsions, suggesting the range of accessible material that can be obtained through this powerful pathway.