Spatio-temporal control over destabilization of Pickering emulsions stabilized by light-sensitive dextran-based nanoparticles

Abstract

The implementation of light-sensitive Pickering emulsions with spatio-temporal responsiveness in advanced applications like drug-delivery, colloidal or reaction engineering would open new avenues. However, curiously, light-sensitive Pickering emulsions are barely studied in the literature and their biocompatibility and/or degradability scarcely addressed. Thus, their development remains a major challenge. As an original strategy, we synthesized light-sensitive nanoparticles based on biocompatible Poly(NitroBenzylAcrylate) grafted dextran (Dex-g-PNBA) to stabilize O/W Pickering emulsions. The produced emulsions were stable in time and could undergo time and space-controlled destabilization under light stimulus. Irradiation time and alkaline pH-control of the aqueous phase were proved to be the actual key drivers of destabilization. As the nanoparticles themselves were photolyzed under light stimulus, possible harmful effects linked to accumulation of nanomaterials should be avoided. In addition to UV light (365 nm), visible light (405 nm) was successfully used for the spatio-temporal destabilization of the emulsions, offering perspectives for life science applications.