Abstract: In recent years, the applications of Pickering emulsions have expanded in cosmetic and biological systems, leading to increased interest in the adsorption behavior of fine particles on oil-water interfaces. Despite this interest, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the connection between particle adsorption and interfacial tension. To address these gaps in knowledge, our study focused on three main areas: (1) the relationship between changes in liquid-liquid interfacial tension and the physical properties of Pickering emulsions, (2) competitive adsorption of fine particles and surfactants at the liquid-liquid interface, and (3) the particle size dependence of nanoparticle adsorption capability based on measurements of surface (interfacial) tension and its thermodynamic analysis. In this short review, we will discuss the findings from our experiments, particularly the possibility of spontaneous demulsification of Pickering emulsions through the control of interfacial tension.

The development of an optimal material design is crucial for rice bran wax (RBW) to achieve significant advancements in value-added byproducts. In this study, emulsifier-free, submicron-sized, monodisperse RBW particles were prepared via melt emulsification using a combination of a high-HLB emulsifier—decaglycerin stearate or Tween 20—and a low-HLB emulsifier—glyceryl stearate or Span 20. High dispersibility was achieved due to the zeta-potential generated by the surrounding surfactants, resulting in monodispersed submicron-sized RBW particles. Surface cleaning with ethanol effectively removed surface-adsorbed emulsifiers, yielding emulsion-free RBW particles. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the wax particles, high solvent repellencies were observed, along with the formation of colloidal assemblies such as liquid marbles and W/O Pickering emulsions using cosmetics-applicable liquids. Based on X-ray diffraction analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, RBW was identified as a promising candidate for emulsifier-free submicron-sized particles due to its high crystallinity, which facilitates the effective elimination of emulsifiers.

The gel properties of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) emulsions were significantly affected by the oxidation state. In our study, the effect of chicken fat (CF) at different oxidation levels (0-1.2 h) on the conformational structure, intermolecular interaction and gelling performance of MP was investigated. Additionally, the functional characteristics of emulsified gels were explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in vitro digestion. The results showed that moderately oxidized CF could promote the transformation of α-helix to β-structure, enhanced hydrophobic interaction between proteins and increased the viscoelasticity of MPs gel. In contrast, over-oxidized CF would deteriorate the MPs gel network structure through protein aggregation. Finally, moderately oxidized CF (0.6 h) was used to facilitate the optimal MPs gel, whose gastrointestinal digestion capability increased by 6.85%. This study contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the modification of MPs by oxidized CF on the improvement of physicochemical properties, functional qualities of emulsified gels, which provided a new way of exploring the application of controlled oxidation oils in the emulsion-based meat products and even in the oil-rich meat production industry.

Ozonized sunflower oil has been found to have a valuable antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. However, delayed cutaneous wound healing, severe adverse skin reactions such as pain, burns, irritation, and unsatisfactory storage stability have limited its clinical use as it is known that the performance of ozonized sunflower oil is reflected by core indicators such as iodine value (IV), peroxide value (PV), and acid value (AV). Aiming to improve the above characteristics, ozone oxidation conditions such as the oil water content of raw materials, stirring speed, and ozonized time were successfully optimized, and the optimized conditions were 5%, 300 rpm, and 6 h, respectively. Additionally, the UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS was used to identify the compounds of sunflower oil and ozonation sunflower oil, and 10 fatty acids were successfully identified. The results clearly indicated that the ozonized sunflower oil prepared under optimized ozonation conditions achieved a high degree of ozonation (II) and a satisfactory PV/AV ratio. These optimized conditions further proved to be valuable in improving not only the storage stability of ozonized sunflower oil for up to six months but also in ensuring its remarkable antimicrobial effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, with a PV of 165.75 mmol/kg achieving a 100% antibacterial efficacy.

Protein misfolding and aggregation play crucial roles in several neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, sulfobetaine-10 (SB10) has been demonstrated to stabilize proteins and inhibit aggregation by preserving solubility and retaining native-like structures when exposed to reducing agents such as DTT. We have measured changes in turbidity, secondary, tertiary structures, and ThT fluorescence. When SB10 concentration was used above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), it successfully stops hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) aggregation. Below CMC, SB10 induces aggregation in the DTT reduced HEWL. However, it does not cause aggregated proteins to regain their native structure. SB10’s zwitterionic composition restricts its capacity to aid in protein refolding, highlighting the significance of electrostatic interactions in this process. This research indicates that SB10 has promise in therapeutic protein formulations and as a remedy for protein misfolding diseases.

Surface activity parameters such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), saturation adsorption (Г_max), and limiting molecular area (A_min) of three triazinyl bisquaternary ammonium salts with different hydrophobic chain lengths (C₆-2-C₆, C₈-2-C₈ and C₁₂-2-C₁₂) were analyzed from surface tension tests. The results showed that the CMC value of C₁₂-2-C₁₂ was much lower (0.026 mmol/L) than that of C₆-2-C₆ and C₈-2-C₈. The corrosion inhibition performances of three triazinyl bisquaternary ammonium salts on Q235 in 1 mol/L HCl solution were investigated by weight loss measurements and electrochemistry measurements. The results showed that the longer the hydrophobic chain length, the better the corrosion inhibition performance at the same concentration. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies of C₁₂-2-C₁₂, C₈-2-C₈ and C₆-2-C₆ at 0.2 mmol/L were 98.10%, 96.09% and 94.64%, respectively. Surface analysis and quantum chemical calculations showed that the three triazinyl bisquaternary ammonium salts can be adsorbed on the surface of carbon steel effectively to inhibit the corrosion of the carbon steel surface.

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia and local wounds continues to be a major global public health concern. Evidence available for the selection of correct antiseptics for preventing and treating wound infections are limited. We here examined whether lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) remains effective as a wound-compatible antiseptic against in vitro cultivated MRSA in the presence of an organic material. The antimicrobial efficacy of LPC against MRSA was investigated in the presence of various substances, namely bovine serum albumin, defibrinated sheep blood, mucin, and sodium hyaluronate, to evaluate the interactions between LPC and these compounds. We noted the inhibitory effects of 3 mL/L sheep blood and 3 g/L albumin, used to simulate a contaminated wound or environmental surface, on LPC. Two higher concentrations of hyaluronic acid (0.5 and 0.05 g/L) affected LPC activity against MRSA after 3 and 6 h of treatment. In the presence of four concentrations of mucin (30, 3, 0.3, and 0.03 g/L), LPC was almost ineffective against MRSA. We here provided information about interactions between several tissue-derived materials and LPC used against MRSA. In presence of some materials, LPC exhibited relatively stable antimicrobial effect. Thus, LPC may be a promising candidate as a wound antiseptic agent.

White mineral oil (paraffin oil) is a colorless, tasteless and hydrophobic oil used in many different industries. The oil is prone to oxidation, which negatively affects its properties and performance. In this study, six different essential oils obtained from herbs and spices (Sage, Laurel, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano) were added to pharmaceutical and technical grade white mineral oils at 0.1 − 0.8 % (w/w) concentrations. Light, heat and air were applied to induce and accelerate oxidation. The total acid number, viscosity, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the oils were measured in addition to the TGA and DSC tests to evaluate the anti-oxidation performance of the additives. The results showed that combined heat and oxygen treatment was the most effective of the three conditions tested to cause oxidation. The highest DPPH scavenging activities were obtained with oregano and thyme essential oils (up to 59% and 54% DPPH increase, respectively) and DPPH% activity increased linearly with increasing essential oil concentration. Thermal analyses, total acid number and viscosity change data also suggested the essential oils of Thyme, Oregano and Laurel as the best antioxidant additives to be used in white oils.

Medicinal plants, rich in polyphenolic compounds, play a crucial role in traditional and modern medicine due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and disease-preventing properties. This study investigated the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity across various growth stages (pre-flowering, flowering, and post-flowering) of four medicinal plants: Primula auriculata L., Stachys vulgaris L., Verbascum spp., and Ajuga oblongata L., cultivated in the Soran region, Erbil Province, Iraqi Kurdistan. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nine types of polyphenols were identified and quantified, including gallic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids. The results showed significant variations in polyphenol concentrations across different plant species and growth stages. For example, Primula exhibited the highest levels of gallic acid (41.91 mg/kg) during pre-flowering, while Ajuga showed peak chlorogenic acid content (827.62 mg/kg) post-flowering. Antioxidant activity was highest in Ajuga during flowering (75.33%) and lowest during post-flowering. Overall, polyphenol content was positively correlated with antioxidant activity, highlighting the importance of growth stage in optimizing the medicinal benefits of these plants. These findings contribute to the ethnobotanical knowledge of Kurdish medicinal plants and offer insights into the optimal harvest times for maximizing bioactive compounds.