Strong, elastic, and tough high internal phase emulsions stabilized solely by cod myofibers for multidisciplinary applications

Abstract

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are versatile platforms for various applications owing to the low-density, interconnected structure, and large specific area. The mechanical properties of existing HIPEs, especially those stabilized solely by one naturally-occurring substance, hinder their practical applications. In this study, we disclose strong (up to 1.6 MPa), tough (up to 0.7 MJ m−3), and fatigue-resistant HIPEs stabilized solely by cod myofibers (CMs). Unlike conventional Pickering-type HIPEs, intrinsic strengthening and toughening of CMs, resultant from cadmium bridging of actin and myosin, endow the superior mechanical properties of our HIPEs. The HIPEs are conformable to 3D printing, yielding architectures with tailorable rheological properties that are vital for texture of foods. Besides, the network structures of our HIPEs serve the template of aerogels that had the oil absorption capacity of up to 58 g g−1 and maintained properties after repeated uses. The ability of aerogels to absorb petroleum or soy oil spilled on down feathers within 40 s shows the potential applications in fabric cleansing and remediation of oil spillage including rescuing seabirds. Furthermore, the porous structures of aerogels are excellent platforms for osteoblast attachment and proliferation and therefore are potential scaffolds in tissue engineering. The mechanically robust, reusable, and biofriendly HIPEs in this study can be developed as facile and reusable materials for numerous multidisciplinary applications.