Biomolecule-based pickering food emulsions: Intrinsic components of food matrix, recent trends and prospects

Dietary fat in food matrix plays an important role in improving the bioaccessibility of lipophilic micronutrients. Conventionally, surfactants and amphiphilic biopolymers have been used to stabilize the lipid and aqueous phase. Recently, the particle-stabilized emulsions, or referred to as 'Pickering emulsions', are studied extensively due to their better stability and potential applications in addition to the benefits of conventional emulsions. Inorganic particles are often criticized for causing irritation, damage to tissues and environment-related issues; hence biopolymers have emerged as promising Pickering particles. Hydrocolloids especially polysaccharides and proteins have been widely studied for their potential as a biopolymer-based Pickering particle and used in foodgrade applications. However, particle properties like wettability, surface charge, size, and shape determine their applicability as Pickering particle. Majority of previous studies involved the model aqueous systems (water or buffer) as a continuous aqueous phase. In this review, the roles of intrinsic food-components like salts, pH, surfactants and colloids of food matrix and their potential in developing food-grade Pickering emulsions are discussed. Different strategies for the inclusion of lipophilic bioactive molecules in food-grade Pickering emulsions were systematically reviewed. Also, investigations on other aspects of developing food-grade Pickering emulsions, including sustainability of processing, particle modification strategies, and development of innovative Pickering food products, are on the rise. Further investigations in these areas could elaborate the scope of Pickering stabilization of food matrix and extend food-grade applications of biomolecule-based Pickering emulsion in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals.

Automated summary

This article discusses the importance of dietary fat in improving the bioaccessibility of lipophilic micronutrients in food matrix, and the recent extensive research on particle-stabilized emulsions known as 'Pickering emulsions'. Biopolymers have emerged as promising Pickering particles, with hydrocolloids such as polysaccharides and proteins being widely studied for their potential in food-grade applications. Different strategies for incorporating lipophilic bioactive molecules into food-grade Pickering emulsions have been systematically reviewed.