Pickering emulsions have attracted significant interest due to their superior stability compared to surfactant-stabilized emulsions. Particle size is a key parameter in the stabilization of Pickering emulsions. However, a fundamental understanding of how particle size influences emulsion stabilization across different homogenization methods remains unclear. In this study, the effects of silica nanoparticle size on Pickering emulsion formation and stability were investigated under different processing methods, including rotor-stator homogenization, ultrasonication, and high-pressure homogenization. Emulsion structure and stability were evaluated using droplet size analysis, interfacial adsorption measurements, ζ-potential characterization, and Turbiscan stability analysis. Multivariate Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was further applied to assess the relative importance of particle size. The results show that the effect of particle size on emulsion stability strongly depends on the processing method. Under rotor-stator homogenization, stability was governed by a balance between droplet size reduction and particle sedimentation, resulting in optimal stability for intermediate-sized nanoparticles. Under ultrasonication, smaller nanoparticles enhanced stability primarily through increased interfacial adsorption. In contrast, for high-pressure homogenization, particle size effects on droplet structure were largely masked, and stability was mainly constrained by limited coalescence during storage and sedimentation of larger particles. These findings show that particle size influences Pickering emulsion stability through distinct mechanisms under different homogenization methods, providing guidance for the rational design of particle-stabilized emulsions.

Assessment of synergistic effects of ultrasonication, ozonation and their combination with aloe vera active edible coating containing spirulina and turmeric extracts on preservation of fresh-cut apples

ABSTRACTNanoemulsions are increasingly recognized as promising delivery systems for essential oils in functional products due to their ability to protect sensitive bioactives. Valerian essential oil (VEO) contains valuable bioactives with notable functional properties; however, its volatility and instability limit its direct incorporation into aqueous environments. This study investigated the preparation of oil‐in‐water nanoemulsions containing 1.5% (w/w) VEO using two high‐energy emulsification techniques, ultrasonication (US) and microfluidization (MF), in phosphate buffer (PB) or distilled water (DW) as dispersion media. Samples were characterized in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and physical stability. The most stable sample was further evaluated under environmental stress, including varying ionic strength (up to 150 mM NaCl) and pH (4–8). In the formulation prepared in PB using US (US‐PB), smaller particle sizes were observed compared to those prepared using MF (MF‐PB) (136.4 ± 0.12 vs. 146.5 ± 0.26 nm), showing a similar trend in both formulations prepared in DW (US‐DW and MF‐DW) (139 ± 4.57 vs. 142.4 ± 0.47 nm). All samples remained monodispersed (PDI < 0.3). Zeta potential values indicated stronger stabilization in formulations prepared in PB (−56.89 ± 1.61 mV for US‐PB and −50.16 ± 5.34 mV for MF‐PB) compared with DW (−22.93 ± 5.68 mV for US‐DW and −26.17 ± 7.90 mV for MF‐DW). Lumisizer analysis showed slightly higher stability for US‐PB (instability index 0.37) compared with MF‐PB (0.40), whereas DW systems were less stable (0.67 and 0.54 for US‐DW and MF‐DW, respectively). Formulations prepared in PB, particularly US‐PB exhibited the highest entrapment efficiency (> 88%). At 150 mM NaCl concentration and pH 4.0, US‐PB stability decreased due to reduced zeta potential and electrostatic repulsion, whereas it remained stable at pH 8.0.

Current intravenous docetaxel (DTX) formulations often contain excipients like polysorbate 80 and high-dose ethanol, which are associated with severe adverse effects and compound DTX's inherent systemic toxicity. This study addresses these limitations by developing a novel injectable nanosuspension of docetaxel-loaded biodegradable periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPMO), termed B@D, aiming for an excipient-free and less toxic alternative. We successfully formulated a highly stable B@D nanosuspension using polyethylene glycol 400 and povidone K12 polymers, optimized pH conditions, and ultrasonic homogenization. This formulation demonstrated excellent stability for up to two months and exhibited superior in vitro drug release efficiency compared to free DTX. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed that the B@D nanosuspension achieved anticancer efficacy comparable to the commercial product Docetaxel Ebewe (10 mg/mL), while maintaining minimal toxicity on normal fibroblast L929 cells. This research provides a promising new direction for developing stable, effective, and less toxic nanosuspension-based injectable formulations for docetaxel, with significant implications for pharmaceutical development. • Novel docetaxel nanosuspension developed without toxic excipients. • Biodegradable mesoporous organosilica enhances DTX delivery. • Stable formulation achieved using polymer coating and pH optimization. • Superior in vitro drug release and improved DTX solubility. • Comparable anticancer efficacy with reduced normal cell toxicity.

Engineering acid-resistant pickering emulsions via sustainable CNC-chitosan synergy: The effect of ionic strength.

Nano-Emulsion Pomelo Essential Oil System Using Ultrasonic Homogenization: Optimization and Characterization for Hair Care Products

This study presents a comprehensive comparison of microfluidization and ultrasonication homogenization methods for producing primary and chitosan-coated secondary liposomes loaded with bee pollen extract (PE). The gastrointestinal stability, transepithelial transport (Caco-2 model), and bread-matrix applicability of these systems were then investigated in terms of the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and CUPRAC). Both ultrasonication and microfluidization was found to be effective in producing primary and secondary liposomes with varying characteristics, including particle size (80.71 –118.60 nm) and surface charge (-27.90 mV to + 50.17 mV). Encapsulation efficiency was notably enhanced by ultrasonication, reaching 78.58%. During gastrointestinal digestion, the ultrasonication application exhibited high stability in TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity (CUPRAC and DPPH), leading to high bioaccessibility values at the highest PE concentration (72.01% for TPC, 86.50% for TFC, 70.90% for CUPRAC, and 58.93% for DPPH). In the in vitro intestinal transport model, the bioavailability of TPC, TFC, CUPRAC, and DPPH from fortified bread was determined as 32.06%, 63.20%, 81.67%, and 24.63%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that liposomal encapsulation homogenized by ultrasonication can effectively improve the stability, delivery, and functional performance of pollen bioactive compounds. This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing the nutritional value and health-promoting properties of food products by incorporating liposomal encapsulated PE into bread.

Eucalyptus globulus is one of the most important medicinal plants known for its volatile oil content. It has several uses in respiratory disorders as well as cough and cold, due to the presence of certain triterpenoids. In the present work a simple, consistent, and robust densitometric HPTLC method was devised and validated for simultaneous estimation of four triterpenoids in E. globulus leaves and bark, namely ursolic acid, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, and lupeol. Various extraction procedures, including maceration, ultra sonication, heat reflux, and Soxhlet, were utilized to produce optimal extraction conditions of four triterpenoids from the plant sources. Pet. ether: ethyl acetate: acetone (8:2:0.5v/v/v) was used as the mobile phase for the chromatographic separation. After derivatization, the measurement of four triterpenoid was done using densitometric reflection/absorption mode at 366nm. In the linear working concentration range of 0.25-1.25µg/spot, precise quantification of UA, BA, OA, and lupeol were done with good correlation (r2=0.9917, 0.9986, 0.9950 and 0.990, respectively). Soxhlet extraction method provided best extraction yield, selectivity, and efficiency for all four triterpenoids. By this method, the estimated amounts of UA, BA, and, OA in leaves were found to be 6.85±0.273, 2.443±0.076, and 5.3±0.615mg/g dry weight [DW] , respectively, but the highest content of lupeol was detected in bark (0.377±0.035mg/g DW). The present work can serve as an exhaustive standardization tool for E. globulus since four of its bioactive phytochemicals have been estimated simultaneously, as well as throw light on the best extraction method.

Potential effectiveness of ultrasonication (US) with different chemical solutions on the decontamination of titanium implant healing abutments (HAs) and their surface characteristics was investigated. Ninety-five HAs, representing two distinct brands/designs, were retrieved from patients after 4-6 weeks for the present study. They were precleaned by immersing in enzymatic detergent (ED) and randomized into five groups: autoclaving only (control), US in 40°C tap water and autoclaving, US in 40°C 1% sodium hypochlorite (SH) and autoclaving, US in 80°C citric + maleic + lactic acid (CA) solution and autoclaving, US in 40°C ED and autoclaving. HAs were stained and photographed from lateral and occlusal aspects before and after decontamination. Stained areas were calculated and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses were conducted to assess surface morphology and elemental composition. Control group showed the lowest debridement potential (mean 54.4%) and highest residual contamination. SH almost entirely removed the debris (mean 99.7%, Brand1: 99.6%, Brand2: 99.9%) showing an outperforming cleansing efficacy among all groups (p < 0.05). SEM and EDS analyses demonstrated that surface morphology and elemental composition of decontaminated surfaces in SH group was similar to that of unused HAs. After precleaning HAs by soaking in ED, 1% SH, used in combination with US, can be preferred for decontaminating HAs due to its superior cleaning efficiency and minimal surface alteration regardless of HA macrogeometry. In cases where placing unused HAs is not feasible, this three-step protocol may present an efficient and cost-effective alternative for at least one reuse cycle.

Evaluating the effects of ultrasonic and high-pressure homogenization on the flavor profile of Wuliang Mountain black-boned chicken soup

ABSTRACT A dual processing technique combining ultrasonication (UT) and gas-induced semi-solid (GISS) processing was developed to fabricate A356 aluminum matrix composites reinforced with 2.5 vol.% nano-SiC. Ultrasonic treatment (20 kHz, 2.5 kW) was applied at a low-superheat near-liquidus temperature (620°C) under two conditions: (i) ultrasonication alone (UT-620) and (ii) ultrasonication with simultaneous argon gas injection through a specially designed ultrasonic gas diffuser (UGD-620). Optical metallography revealed a transformation from a coarse dendritic structure in the base A356 alloy (~120 µm) to refined near-globular grains of 60–65 µm (UT-620) and 40–45 µm (UGD-620), with the shape factor increasing from 0.65 to 0.74 and 0.82, respectively. SEM and TEM analyses showed dendrite fragmentation, nSiC agglomeration in UT-620, and uniform nanoscale dispersion in UGD-620. XRD confirmed the presence of α-Al, Si, and Mg2Si phases without Al4C3 formation. Yield strength and hardness increased from ~78 MPa and 81 HV to 158 MPa and 154 HV, while porosity decreased from 2.1% to 0.7%. The results demonstrate that combining UT with GISS is essential for achieving a stable, densified microstructure and superior mechanical performance in nSiC-reinforced A356 composites.

Five plant extracts (Orthosiphon stamineus, Morus nigra, Averrhoa bilimbi, Punica granatum, and Eurycoma longifolia) were studied in this work for antioxidant activities using ABTS and DPPH; the two most potent extracts in terms of antioxidant activity were further studied for antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines. To study the antiproliferative activity of two potent extracts at different combination ratios on two cancer cell lines (HepG2 and A375) using the MTT assay. About 20 g of the dried and pulverized plant materials were extracted with 200 mL of 80 % ethanol in an ultrasonic homogenizer for 15 minutes (using 15-second pulse-on and 5-second pulse-off period). The resulting extract was filtered and concentrated in a rotary evaporator to 20 mL before freeze drying to eliminate alcohol content. The phytochemical tests were done using several chemical methods. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed using ABTS and DPPH methods. Two plant extracts (O. stamineus and P. granatum extracts) with the highest antioxidant activities out of the screened five extracts were used for the phytochemical identification test and MTT assays using HepG2 and A375 cell lines. The antiproliferative activity study showed that the calculated IC50 values for the individual O. stamineus and P. granatum extracts against the HepG2 cell line were (144.46 µg/mL and 174.16 µg/mL), respectively, and against the A375 cell line, the IC50 values were determined to be (136.19 and 152.77 µg/mL), respectively. For the combined O. stamineus and P. granatum extracts against the HepG2 cell line, the calculated IC50 values were (138.4 ± 0.86 µg/mL, 124.52 ± 1.62 µg/mL, and 157.88 ± 1.31 µg/mL) against HepG2 at the combination ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2, respectively, and (106.33 ± 1.14 µg/mL, 99.62 ± 0.64 µg/mL, and 118.32 ± 1.06 µg/mL) for the A375 cell line at the combination ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2, respectively. This study showed that it actually takes two to tango since the antiproliferative activities of the combined extracts against the studied cell lines were stronger than their individual activities. Therefore, it may be suggested that the phytochemicals responsible for the observed activity in this study can be isolated and characterized for improved exploitation.

Meat tenderness is key to consumer acceptance but is challenged by goat meat’s leanness and high connective tissue content. A promising solution is the in-pack combination of ultrasonication (US) and sous-vide (SV) technologies to enhance tenderness while ensuring product safety. This study investigates the individual and combined effects of US and SV on biochemical and molecular changes in goat meat during the first 48 h post-mortem, focusing on glycolysis, proteolysis, apoptosis, and water retention, compared to an untreated control (C). At 48 h post-mortem, US + SV resulted in the fastest pH decrease (p < 0.05), correlating with glycogen and ATP depletion and lactate accumulation, indicating accelerated glycolysis and hastened rigor mortis. Both US and SV individually enhanced sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein degradation, as shown by increased solubility and myofibrillar fragment index (MFI), and their combination had a synergistic effect on proteolysis. Only US + SV promoted collagen degradation (p < 0.05). US alone accelerated ATP degradation, whereas SV had no significant effect (p > 0.05), suggesting minimal impact on energy metabolism. SV enhanced US-driven proteolysis, likely by stabilizing proteolytic enzyme activity to function effectively in catalyzing the breakdown of proteins. Gene expression analysis confirmed that US + SV and US induced early apoptosis and proteolysis, particularly within the first 12 h, which corresponded to lower Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) values, indicating improved meat tenderness. Despite higher weight loss, US + SV improved cooking loss compared to C (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that US + SV accelerates proteolysis and enhances meat tenderness, providing valuable insights for the meat industry in optimizing post-mortem processing techniques.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44463-025-00028-7.

This study optimized the synergistic use of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and ultrasonication (US) for sludge dewatering via response surface methodology. Results identified optimal conditions (43% PAC, 9.3 W/L US, 43 s) and revealed that treatment sequence critically determined performance. US followed by PAC achieved a sludge cake moisture content of 63.52% and specific resistance to filtration of 2.293 × 1011 m/kg, improving raw sludge values by 35.5% and 97.2%, respectively. Conversely, the reverse sequence degraded efficiency. SEM indicated that US pretreatment disrupts extracellular polymeric substances, releasing bound water, while subsequent PAC creates permeable channels. This sequence-dependent synergy underscores the importance of operational optimization for energy-efficient conditioning, offering a viable strategy to reduce sludge disposal costs and environmental footprint, despite persisting challenges like PAC cost and reactor design.

Structure-function relationships of pearl millet nano-starches prepared by different methods.

Novel composite materials preparation from red mud and landfill leachate and their utilization and mechanism exploration for the removal of beryllium and antimony from wastewater.

A comparative study on the effects of emulsification methods on the antimicrobial activity of essential oil emulsions.

Fruit juices are highly nutritious, and popular drinks but they are susceptible to quality degradation during pasteurization process. Research on non-thermal techniques of retaining fruit juice quality has grown rapidly in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate how quality metrics of phalsa juice were affected by thermosonication (TS) and ultrasonication (US). Six samples were employed, in which T 0 (control), T 1 (thermal treatment) at 90 °C for 3 min, T 2 -T 3 samples were ultrasonically treated (US) at 37 kHz for 5–10 min (30 °C), and T 4 -T 5 samples were thermosonicated (TS) at 37 kHz for 5–10 min (50–60 °C) to determined their effect on physicochemical, phytochemical, and microbiological characteristics of phalsa juice. Physicochemical and microbial analyses were conducted at refrigerator temperature (4 °C) for 12 days. The results demonstrated that the T 3 sample (US treated) significantly had higher levels of vitamin C (414.57–462.09 mg/100 mL), total flavonoid (654.68–684.73 mg CE/100 mL), and total phenolic (134.83–152.43 mg GAE/100 mL) as well as their total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (589.69–648.44 μg/g) and DPPH (1204.5–1274.8 μg/g AAE) while TSS and TA are slightly affected in all treated samples. The T 5 Sample at 10 min (60 °C) had the highest inactivation of total plate count (2.76 CFU/mL), yeast and mold (2.21 CFU/mL) at 0 day, thus the microbial population was significantly inactivated by thermosonication. All treatments experienced a decrease in pH and TSS values, while titratable acidity increased significantly over a storage period. In comparison to the control group, total plate count, yeast, and mold significantly decreased in all treated group over a period of 12 days. The results of this study imply that US and TS treatments are a potential method for improving juice quality, economical and nutritional advantages of industrial processing for enhancing microbial safety and shelf life.

Stirring-induced vortex augmented ultrasonic cavitation for algae inactivation.

Nanoemulsion enhances antimicrobial efficacy of Spanish marjoram essential oil against Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 on spinach leaves.