Ultrasound-assisted Emulsification Research Articles

Beyond Creams and Gels: The Emergence of Emulgels in Pharmaceutical Science

Background: Emulgels combine the properties of emulsions and gels, offering a unique drug delivery system that enhances the solubility and stability of hydrophobic drugs. This study reviews recent advancements in emulgels and their potential in pharmaceutical applications. Objective: To systematically review the current state of research on emulgels, focusing on formulation techniques, characterization methods, and therapeutic applications. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering studies published from 2010 to 2023. Inclusion criteria included articles discussing formulation techniques, characterization, and therapeutic applications of emulgels. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Various formulation techniques, such as high-energy emulsification, phase inversion, and solvent evaporation, have been explored to enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. Recent advancements introduced novel methods like microfluidization and ultrasound-assisted emulsification to improve formulation efficiency. Characterization techniques, including rheological analysis, particle size determination, and drug release studies, are crucial for optimizing emulgel formulations. Several patents have been filed, reflecting innovative approaches in emulgel technology, such as incorporating nanomaterials and targeted delivery systems. Therapeutic applications of emulgels have been extensively studied in dermatology, pain management, and antimicrobial therapy, showing promising results in enhancing drug efficacy and patient compliance. Conclusion: Emulgels present a versatile and efficient drug delivery system with significant potential in various therapeutic areas. Future research should focus on the large-scale production of emulgels and their long-term stability to facilitate their transition from research to clinical practice.

Ultrasound-Assisted Preparation of Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanocapsules with an Oil Core.

Liquid-core nanocapsules (NCs) coated with amphiphilic hyaluronic acid (AmHA) have been proposed for the preparation of drug and food formulations. Herein, we focused on the use of ultrasound techniques to (i) optimize the polysaccharide chain length with respect to the properties of NCs stabilized with AmHAs and (ii) form oil-core nanocapsules with a coating composed of AmHAs. The results indicate that sonication is a convenient and effective method that allows for a controlled reduction in HA molecular weight. The initial (H-HA) and degraded (L-HA) polysaccharides were then reacted with dodecylamine to obtain hydrophobic HA derivatives (HA-C12s). Then, NCs were prepared based on HA-C12s using ultrasound-assisted emulsification of glyceryl triacetate oil. The nanocapsules coated with L-HA-C12 showed greater stability compared to the longer-chain polysaccharide. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that HA-C12 readily adsorbs at the water-oil interphase, adopting a more compact conformation compared to that in the aqueous phase. The dodecyl groups are immersed in the oil droplet, while the main polysaccharide chain remaining in the aqueous phase forms hydrogen bonds or water bridges with the polar part of the triglycerides, thus increasing the stability of the NC. Our research underscores the usefulness of ultrasound technology in preparing suitable formulations of bioactive substances.

Mayonnaise produced by ultrasound-assisted emulsification using plant-based and “clean label” ingredients

Recently, nanoemulsions have gained significant attention for their improved stability and their wide range of potential uses in the food industry. This study aimed to create a novel type of mayonnaise with 23.6% (w/w) of oil using ultrasound-assisted emulsification for 6 min to incorporate lupin protein (3.4%, w/w) in the nanoemulsion stabilized by a combination of citrus fibre (2.5%, w/w) and psyllium (0.3%, w/w) or modified starch (3.0%, w/w). Nanoemulsions were produced using a cold-water bath and characterised by their stability and structural properties and used for the production of the mayonnaise. Results showed that the use of lupin protein led to stable nanoemulsions for 50 days stored at 4 °C. The smallest mean droplet size for lupin protein was 505.5 ± 43.5 nm and a polydispersity value 0.434 ± 0.045. Then, the selected nanomulsion was used to produce mayonnaise at room temperature. Mayonnaise were characterised in terms of its rheological and morphological properties, and through sensorial evaluation. The texture of the plant-based formulations was very close to one commercial mayonnaise, with similar resistance to deformation. The consistency (k) and flow index (n) were similar between samples and indicate that the samples are viscous due to the considerable value of k. A sensory analysis with a panel of consumers showed that the proposed formulations had a similar organoleptic profile compared to the benchmark sample. However, the tests showed that formulation developed with fibres had a slightly lower overall liking score.Ultrasound seems to be an effective strategy for developing plant-based nanoemulsions, foreseeing their use in the production of mayonnaise.

A closer look at how the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method works. Investigation of the effect of solvent mixture composition on the quality and stability of the cloudy state.

The dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) is one of the most popular miniaturized extraction procedures. In this paper, the degree of dispersion and dispersion stability were studied with the aim to assess the correlations of these parameters with efficiency for the selected analytical application. The dependence between the degree of dispersion (cloudy state quality) and its stability obtained by various emulsification procedures, such as solvent-assisted emulsification (using various dispersive solvents) and mechanical emulsification (using auxiliary energies), is investigated and discussed. It was found out that the degree of dispersion depends on the type of emulsification procedure and decreases in the series: solvent-assisted (SA-) = ultrasound-assisted (UA-) > air-assisted (AA-) > vortex-assisted (VA-) emulsification. The emulsion stability depends on the degree of dispersion and there were 1810 and 2070s for the most effective emulsification procedures, such us solvent-assisted and ultrasound-assisted emulsification, respectively. A comparison between the sensitivity of the analytical methods (using spectrophotometric determination of the anionic surfactants) and the degree of dispersion have been made. The sensitivity of the methods was ranked as follows: DLLME > UA-LLME > VA-LLME > AA-LLME.

Chondroitin Sulfate-Based Nanocapsules as Nanocarriers for Drugs and Nutraceutical Supplements.

Oil-core nanocapsules (NCs, also known as nanoemulsions) are of great interest due to their application as efficient carriers of various lipophilic bioactives, such as drugs. Here, we reported for the first time the preparation and characterization of NCs consisting of chondroitin sulfate (CS)-based shells and liquid oil cores. For this purpose, two amphiphilic CS derivatives (AmCSs) were obtained by grafting the polysaccharide chain with octadecyl or oleyl groups. AmCS-based NCs were prepared by an ultrasound-assisted emulsification of an oil phase consisting of a mixture of triglyceride oil and vitamin E in a dispersion of AmCSs. Dynamic light scattering and cryo-transmission electron microscopy showed that the as-prepared core-shell NCs have typical diameters in the range of 30-250 nm and spherical morphology. Since CS is a strong polyanion, these particles have a very low surface potential, which promotes their stabilization. The cytotoxicity of the CS derivatives and CS-based NCs and their impact on cell proliferation were analyzed using human keratinocytes (HaCaTs) and primary human skin fibroblasts (HSFs). In vitro studies showed that AmCSs dispersed in an aqueous medium, exhibiting mild cytotoxicity against HaCaTs, while for HSFs, the harmful effect was observed only for the CS derivative with octadecyl side groups. However, the nanocapsules coated with AmCSs, especially those filled with vitamin E, show high biocompatibility with human skin cells. Due to their stability under physiological conditions, the high encapsulation efficiency of their hydrophobic compounds, and biocompatibility, AmCS-based NCs are promising carriers for the topical delivery of lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Effects and mechanisms of ultrasound-assisted emulsification treatment on the curcumin delivery and digestive properties of myofibrillar protein-carboxymethyl cellulose complex emulsion gel

Different emulsion gel systems are widely applied to deliver functional ingredients. The effects and mechanisms of ultrasound-assisted emulsification (UAE) treatment and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) modifying the curcumin delivery properties and in vitro digestibility of the myofibrillar protein (MP)-soybean oil emulsion gels were investigated. The rheological properties, droplet size, protein and CMC distribution, ultrastructure, surface hydrophobicity, sulfhydryl groups, and zeta potential of emulsion gels were also measured. Results indicate that UAE treatment and CMC addition both improved curcumin encapsulation and protection efficiency in MP emulsion gel, especially for the UAE combined with CMC (UAE-CMC) treatment which encapsulation efficiency, protection efficiency, the release rate, and bioaccessibility of curcumin increased from 86.75 % to 97.67 %, 44.85 % to 68.85 %, 18.44 % to 41.78 %, and 28.68 % to 44.93 % respectively. The protein digestibility during the gastric stage was decreased after the CMC addition and UAE treatment, and the protein digestibility during the intestinal stage was reduced after the CMC addition. The fatty acid release rate was increased after CMC addition and UAE treatment. Apparent viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus were decreased after CMC addition while increased after UAE and UAE-CMC treatment especially the storage modulus increased from 0.26 Pa to 41 Pa after UAE-CMC treatment. The oil size was decreased, the protein and CMC concentration around the oil was increased, and a denser and uniform emulsion gel network structure was formed after UAE treatment. The surface hydrophobicity, free SH groups, and absolute zeta potential were increased after UAE treatment. The UAE-CMC treatment could strengthen the MP emulsion gel structure and decrease the oil size to increase the curcumin delivery properties, and hydrophobic and electrostatic interaction might be essential forces to maintain the emulsion gel.

Integrating aptasensor with an explosive mass-tag signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive and multiplexed analysis using a miniature mass spectrometer

Mass probes attached with aptamers and mass tags offer excellent specificity and sensitivity for multiplexed detection, wherein the dissociation of mass tags from the mass probes is as important as their labeling. Herein, aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen)-tagged mass probes (AIEMPs) were established to analyze estrogens, which integrated aptasensor with an explosive mass-tag signal amplification strategy via a simple ultrasound-assisted emulsification of nanoliposomes. The AIEMPs were assembled by the hybridization of aptamer-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe NPs@Apt) and nanoliposomes loaded with massive AIEgen mass tags and partially complementary DNA strands (AIE NLs@cDNA). The aptamer was preferentially and specifically bound to estrogen, resulting in the detachment of AIE NLs from AIEMPs. Subsequently, the AIEMPs were deposited with electrospray solvents for explosive release of mass tags. Using nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS), the AIEMP-based aptasensor achieved ultrasensitive analysis of estrogens with limits of detection of 0.168–0.543 pg/mL and accuracies in the range of 87.9–114.0%. Compared to direct nanoESI-MS detection, the AIEMP-based aptasensor provides a signal amplification of four orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the utilization of different AIEMPs enables multiplexed detection of three estrogens with a miniature mass spectrometer, showing promising potential for on-site detection. This work expands the diversity of mass-tagging strategy and provides a versatile mass probe-based aptasensor platform for routine MS detection of trace analytes.

Perfluorocarbon Nanoparticles Incorporating Ginkgolide B: Artificial O2 Carriers with Antioxidant Activity and Antithrombotic Effect.

Ischemic stroke primarily leads to insufficient oxygen delivery in ischemic area. Prompt reperfusion treatment for restoration of oxygen is clinically suggested but mediates more surging reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and oxidative damage, known as ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Therefore, the regulation of oxygen content is a critical point to prevent cerebral ischemia induced pathological responses and simultaneously alleviate IRI triggered by the sudden oxygen restoration. In this work, we constructed a perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based artificial oxygen nanocarrier (PFTBA-L@GB), using an ultrasound-assisted emulsification method, alleviates the intracerebral hypoxic state in ischemia stage and IRI after reperfusion. The high oxygen solubility of PFC allows high oxygen efficacy. Furthermore, PFC has the adhesion affinity to platelets and prevents the overactivation of platelet. The encapsulated payload, ginkgolide B (GB) exerts its anti-thrombosis by antagonism on platelet activating factor and antioxidant effect by upregulation of antioxidant molecular pathway. The versatility of the present strategy provides a practical approach to build a simple, safe, and relatively effective oxygen delivery agent to alleviate hypoxia, promote intracerebral oxygenation, anti-inflammatory, reduce intracerebral oxidative stress damage and thrombosis and caused by stroke.

Combination of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification Microextraction for Separation and Enrichment of Permethrin and Deltamethrin Residues in Spinach Samples

Combination of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction and Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification Microextraction for Separation and Enrichment of Permethrin and Deltamethrin Residues in Spinach Samples

Development of an Ultrasound-Assisted Emulsification Microextraction Method for the Determination of Volatile Compounds in Wines

A fast and simple method based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) was developed for the analysis of volatile compounds in wines. A full factorial 24 screening design was built to investigate the main factors affecting the extraction of volatile components, namely the volume of extraction solvent, sonication time, salt content, and pH. Then, the factors with significant effects were optimized using an I-optimal design. The optimal value for all the variables studied was reached under the following experimental conditions: volume of extraction solvent 200 μL and salt content 5% m/v. The suitability of the optimized method was evaluated, resulting in very good linearity with coefficients of determination (R2) higher than 0.995 in all cases, while repeatability was lower than 8.4% except for d-limonene and p-cymene. Recoveries higher than 82% were observed for the groups of ethyl esters, acetate esters, alcohols, and terpenoid alcohols (linalool, α-terpineol). The recovery of acids ranged from 70.5% to 88.9%, whereas the three monoterpenes studied (d-limonene, γ-terpinene, p-cymene) were not extracted satisfactorily. The proposed method was effectively applied for the analysis of volatile compounds in laboratory-scale fermentations with selected strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent-based microextraction method integrated with a spectrofluorimetric technique for the determination of daclatasvir as a direct-acting hepatitis C antiviral drug in plasma samples

An ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction method based on a natural hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (USAEME-HDES) was developed for extraction and preconcentration of daclatasvir, a hepatitis C virus inhibitor, from plasma samples prior to spectrofluorimetric measurement. To make the deep eutectic solvent (DES) compatible with the fluorescence device, fatty acids were used as components of DES that can simultaneously act as hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA). Various parameters, such as the solvent effect on the fluorescence spectrum and the composition and ratio of DES, were investigated and optimized. Other parameters, including pH, DES volume, sonication time, and NaCl concentration, were investigated and optimized using the central composite design combined with the desirability function. Under optimal conditions, compared to other methods, this method had a wide linear range (5–600 ng/mL) with a good coefficient of determination (0.9985) and a low limit of detection (1.42 ng/mL). Drug analysis results in the plasma samples showed that the method has good accuracy. Finally, the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) tool was used to evaluate the greenness of the method, which demonstrates our method's superior eco-friendship in comparison to other reported methods.

Effects of ultrasound on the oxidation and structures of the myofibrillar protein in the presence or absence of soybean oil.

Ultrasound is widely used as a novel non-thermal processing technique to improve protein properties. In recent decades, applying ultrasound-assisted emulsification (UAE) to produce protein-stabilized emulsion has attracted people's attention. Instead of applying ultrasound to treat a single protein solution, UAE treatment refers to the use of sonication to a mixture of protein and oil. The purpose of this study was to compare the different effects of ultrasound treatment on the properties of the myofibrillar protein (MP) in the presence or absence of soybean oil. A suitable sonication power was selected based on the change in emulsion properties. The 300W sonication power was selected due to its most effectively decreased emulsion droplet size and increased absolute zeta potential. Sonication more significantly increased the protein carbonyl content and disulfide bonds of the MP-soybean oil sample than MP sample. Due to the existence of oil, ultrasound could unfold more protein molecules illustrated by a lower α-helix content and intrinsic fluorescence intensity, and a higher surface hydrophobicity. LC-MS/MS results illustrated that sonication enhanced the myosin heavy chain and actin content at the soybean oil interface as well as accelerated the myosin light chain to separate from myosin in the MP-soybean oil system. In summary, ultrasound treatment could lead to a higher level of protein oxidation and more protein molecule exposure in the MP with the presence of oil system than in the oil-free MP system. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Kinetic spectrophotometric assay for the determination of vitamin C in cosmetics following ultrasound-assisted emulsification.

In this work, a new analytical approach based on ultrasound-assisted emulsification followed by a photoreaction with methylene blue (MB) and kinetic analysis by UV-vis spectrophotometry has been developed for the determination of L-ascorbic acid (AA) in cosmetic samples. The emulsification of cosmetic samples results in a transparent solution that allows an easy and rapid quantitation by UV-vis spectrophotometry. The emulsified sample is mixed with a MB aqueous solution and this mixture is subjected to irradiation with a tungsten lamp for 5 min (fixed-time kinetic assay). A reduction in the MB absorbance intensity at 664 nm occurs as the concentration of AA increases. The observed change in absorbance intensity was used for calibration and further quantitation using the relationship of absorbance logarithm vs. AA concentration (μg mL-1). In order to achieve an optimal response, different parameters involved in the reaction between AA and MB were fully investigated. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were 0.04 μg mL-1 and 0.15 μg mL-1, respectively. Repeatability and reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation, were in the range of 0.4-0.6% and 0.6-1.5%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the analysis of 15 cosmetic samples, namely, (i) 12 samples without AA, which were used to carry out recovery studies, obtaining results in the range of 97.5-100.7%; (ii) 3 serum samples containing pure AA among their ingredients, which were used for AA stability studies.

The comparison of two microextraction methods for the determination of safranal from Iranian saffron

In this study, safranal as the main component of the pleasant aroma of saffron was extracted and analyzed by two liquid-phase microextraction based methods, namely ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction and solidified floating organic drop microextraction. These methods are fast, simple, low-cost, environmentally friendly and efficient procedures that have been developed for the determination of safranal from aqueous samples. Extracted safranal was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography and the performance of the above mentioned methods was compared accurately. A narrow neck glass tube was used for the simple and rapid collection of the low-density organic phase from the sample surface after its centrifugation. A dynamic range over 0.1 to 5 μg mL−1 of safranal and limit of detection of 20 ng mL−1 were obtained for ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction. In addition, the dynamic range for solidified floating organic drop microextraction was between 0.02 to 5 μg mL−1 as well as a limit of detection of 3 ng mL−1 was obtained. Furthermore, the enrichment factor and recovery percent were 38 and 101±4.6% in ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction besides 252 and 25.2 ± 5.8% in solidified floating organic drop microextraction. The applicability of the proposed methods was evaluated by the extraction and determination of safranal from different Iranian saffron samples and finally, the results were validated by the ISO 3632 procedure.

Effects of ultrasound assisted emulsification on overall quality of reduced‐sodium “spam‐like” products elaborated with tilapia filleting by‐products

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of spam-like products elaborated with tilapia mechanically separated meat (MSM), containing different substitution levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) by potassium chloride (KCl; 12.17%–60%) and submitted to different ultrasound times (5–60 min) and intensities (7.53–30.14 W/cm2). No changes (p > .05) were observed in moisture (72.31%), ash (13.22%), carbohydrate (9.28%), protein (4.92%), and lipid (0.47%). Reddishness, cohesiveness, and chewiness were improved, and water exudation was reduced by some treatment conditions, which were further evaluated for microbiological and sensory analysis. Spam-like product at 12.12 W/cm2 for 48.85 min with 47.83% substitution of NaCl by KCl was microbiologically suitable (absence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. in 25 g, coagulase positive Staphylococcus, and sulfite-reducing at 46°C Clostridium) and more accepted by consumers (global impression score of 7.85 ± 0.98). It makes the ultrasound-assisted emulsification for reduced-sodium tilapia MSM spam-like products a feasible alternative to increase fish consumption, improve the healthiness of spam-like products, and still contribute to reducing environmental impacts. Practical applications High sodium intake is an increasing concern for health regulatory agencies and consumers, who are increasingly health-conscious. Nevertheless, it is challenging to produce low-sodium meat products without changing their quality attributes, mainly the taste. High-intensity ultrasound could be helpful for this purpose; however, there is a need to establish the feasible parameters for industrial use concerning the reduced level of NaCl, ultrasound intensity, and exposure time. Our study demonstrated a strategy to produce reduced-sodium tilapia mechanically separated meat (MSM) spam-like products applying ultrasound at 12.12 W/cm2 for 48.85 min and replacing 47.83% NaCl with KCl.

Structuring functional mayonnaise incorporated with Himalayan walnut oil Pickering emulsions by ultrasound assisted emulsification

Nowadays Pickering emulsions have attracted immense attention due to their enhanced stability and numerous food applications. In this context, the present study was aimed to introduce Pickering emulsions stabilized by soy protein isolate (SPI)-maltodextrin (MD)-pectin complex incorporated with Himalayan walnut oil (HWO) for development of novel mayonnaise by ultrasound assisted emulsification. The functional mayonnaise was characterised for its stability, structural, textural, rheological and morphological properties. The rheological and microstructure measurements indicated that use of SPI-pectin HWO emulsions had a viscoelastic solid behaviour (G′ > G″) with highly interconnected gel-like network structure leading to diffused oil droplet distribution. An increase in particle size diameter (1.86–5.09 µm) and hardness values (43.16–69.08 N) was seen with increase in the SPI-pectin wall material concentration. A significant reduction in whiteness (L* value) from 91.12 to 53.52 was noted during storage for encapsulated samples. Mayonnaise formulations containing encapsulated HWO depicted significantly lower peroxide value (2.65 meqO2/kg) after extended storage period in comparison to free oil (8.33 meqO2/kg). FTIR analysis of mayonnaise formulations depicted successful complexation of HWO with SPI-MD-pectin matrix. These findings would be of immense importance in designing of Pickering emulsions stabilized by protein-polysaccharide particles with aim of delivering nutraceuticals associated with myriad health benefits.

Synthesis of Bioactive Materials by In Situ One-Step Direct Loading of Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil into Chitosan-Based Hydrogels.

Hydrogel conjugates based on chitosan and an essential oil were synthetized by an ultrasound-assisted emulsification approach. Rheology studies revealed a gel-type structure with pronounced compactness and flexibility while SEM showed the formation of a two-level ordered network with highly interconnected pores. The swelling studies indicated a pH-dependent behavior with a significant overshooting effect. The synergistic effects of the components in clove essential oil led to a strong antioxidant character and an enhanced antimicrobial activity of the conjugate hydrogels. The bioactivity was maintained for 6 months, despite a slight decrease in the antimicrobial effect. Hydrogel conjugates were found to be very stable even after two months immersed in acidic solutions that would otherwise dissolve the chitosan matrix. Ultrasound emulsification was proved as an efficient one-step loading method of hydrophobic clove essential oil into hydrophilic chitosan matrix. It was found that clove oil and its components have a double role. Besides providing bioactivity, they also behave as gelation-inducing agents, acting as an alternative to the classical chemical cross-linkers to ensure the good physical and chemical stabilization of chitosan.

Comparison of oil-in-water emulsions prepared by ultrasound, high-pressure homogenization and high-speed homogenization

This study was designed to compare the properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) stabilized soybean oil-in-water emulsions fabricated by ultrasound-assisted emulsification (UAE), high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and high-speed homogenization (HSH). The emulsion properties, droplet characteristics, interfacial proteins, protein exposure extent, microrheological properties, multiple light scattering results, and 7 d storage stabilities of the three emulsions were specifically investigated. Our results indicate that UAE and HPH were better emulsification methods than HSH to obtain high-quality emulsions with higher emulsifying activity index (UAE 20.73 m2·g−1, HPH 11.76 m2·g−1 and HSH 6.80 m2·g−1), whiteness (UAE 81.05, HPH 80.67 and HSH 74.09), viscosity coefficient (UAE 0.44 Pa·sn, HPH 0.49 Pa·sn and HSH 0.22 Pa·sn), macroscopic viscosity index (UAE 2.31 nm−2·s, HPH 0.38 nm−2·s and HSH 0.34 nm−2·s), and storage stability, especially for the UAE. Furthermore, UAE was a more efficient emulsification method than HPH to prepare the fine MP-soybean oil emulsion. The protein-coated oil droplets were observed in the three emulsions. The emulsion droplet size of the UAE-fabricated emulsion was the lowest (0.15 μm) while the interfacial protein concentration (93.37%) and the protein exposure extent were the highest among the three emulsions. During the 7 d storage, no separation was observed for the UAE-fabricated emulsion, while the emulsions fabricated by HPH and HSH were separated after storage for 5 d and 2 h. Therefore, this work suggests that UAE could be a better method than HPH and HSH to fabricate MP-soybean oil emulsion.

Ultrasound-assisted Emulsified Microextraction Followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography for Permethrin

Ultrasound assisted emulsification microextraction (UAEME) as a new sample preparation method was optimized for the determination of permethrin in urine samples. Also, deep eutectic solvent was used as the extracting solvent instead of organic solvents in this method. In order to determine the optimal values, six main parameters were studied in different levels. Totally, 105 runs were performed using the one-variable-at-a-time method followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for permethrin was linear in the concentration range of 5 to 500 μgL‑1 for urine samples. The accuracy and reproducibility of the introduced method were determined using the relative recovery (RR%) and relative standard deviation (RSD%) tests on the fortified urine samples. RR% and RSD% were found to be 96.3–101.7 % and 3.2–7.6 %, respectively. The limit of quantification and also the limit of detection were obtained 5 and 1 μg/L, respectively. In the present study, the DES-UA-EME technique was successfully developed for the extraction of permethrin from urine samples and subsequent quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography.In comparison to the other sample preparation methods, the proposed technique has the advantages of shorter extraction time, simplicity, and applicability in laboratories with less equipment

Effect of ultrasound assisted emulsification in the production of Pickering emulsion formulated with chitosan self-assembled particles: Stability, macro, and micro rheological properties

Chitosan is not a good Pickering emulsion-stabilizer owing to its high hydrophilic properties at low pH. This study prepared chitosan self-assembled particles (pH chitosan = 6.6) stabilized Pickering emulsion by ultrasound assisted emulsification. The effects of ultrasound time on the microstructure, stability, macro and micro rheological properties of the Pickering emulsion were investigated, and the underlying mechanism of emulsion stabilization was also clarified. The chitosan particles were successfully adsorbed on the oil-water interface confirmed by the confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). After ultrasound treatment (20 kHz, 300 W, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 min), the droplet size and viscosity of the Pickering emulsion decreased. The macroscopic viscosity index (MVI), elasticity index (EI) of the Pickering emulsion decreased with the increase of ultrasound time, while the fluidity index (FI) was reversed. Ultrasound treatment improved the stability of Pickering emulsion observed by the turbiscan stability index (TSI) prior to 5 min. In conclusion, ultrasound assisted emulsification affected the stability of the Pickering emulsion mainly by affecting the particle size and viscosity of the emulsion. The chitosan self-assembled particles stabilized Pickering emulsion prepared by ultrasonic treatment (5 min) stabilized at room temperature at least for 60 days with no delamination.