Miniemulsion Explained

A miniemulsion (also known as nanoemulsion) is a particular type of emulsion. A miniemulsion is obtained by ultrasonicating a mixture comprising two immiscible liquid phases (for example, oil and water), one or more surfactants and, possibly, one or more co-surfactants (typical examples are hexadecane or cetyl alcohol). They usually have nanodroplets with uniform size distribution (20–500 nm) and are also known as sub-micron, mini-, and ultra-fine grain emulsions.[1]

How to prepare a miniemulsion

  1. Selection of ingredients: The first step in creating a nanoemulsion is to select the ingredients, which include the oil, water, and emulsifying agent. The type and proportions of these ingredients will affect the stability and properties of the final emulsion.[2]
  2. Preparation of oil and aqueous phases: The oil and water phases are separately prepared, with any desired ingredients, such as surfactants or flavoring agents, added at this step.
  3. Mixing oil and emulsifier with stirrer: Next, the oil and water phases are mixed in the presence of an emulsifying agent, typically using a high-shear mixing device such as a homogenizer or a high-pressure homogenizer.[3]
  4. Aging and stabilization: The emulsion is typically aged at room temperature to allow the droplets to stabilize, after which it can be cooled or heated as required.
  5. Optimizing and characterization: The droplet size and stability are then optimized by adjusting the ingredients and process parameters, such as temperature, pH, and mixing conditions. The nanoemulsion is also sterilized by filtration with 0.22μm. Several methods, such as DLS, TEM, and SEM, can characterize the final nanoemulsion's properties.[4]
  6. Analyzing the quality of the particle sizer

Methods of preparing nanoemulsions/miniemulsions

There are two general types of methods for preparing miniemulsions:

Miniemulsions are kinetically stable but thermodynamically unstable.[8] Oil and water are incompatible in nature, and the interface between them is not favored. Therefore, given a sufficient amount of time, the oil and water in miniemulsions separate again. Various mechanisms such as gravitational separation, flocculation, coalescence, and Ostwald ripening result in instability.[9] In an ideal miniemulsion system, coalescence and Ostwald ripening are suppressed thanks to the presence of the surfactant and co-surfactant.[10] With the addition of surfactants, stable droplets are then obtained, which have typically a size between 50 and 500 nm.[11] [12]

Instruments needed in Nanoemulsions

Sterile filter

A sterile filter is a device used to remove microorganisms and other contaminants from a liquid or gas, making it sterile.[13] [14] Sterile filters are commonly used in the medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries to ensure that the products produced are free of bacteria and other harmful organisms.

There are different types of filters which include:

Nanogenizer

A nanogenizer, also known as a high-pressure homogenizer or a microfluidizer, is a device used to create small droplets or particles by applying high pressure to a liquid mixture.[20] These devices can be used to produce nanoemulsions, as well as other types of emulsions and suspensions.[21] They work by passing the mixture through a small orifice under high pressure, which causes the liquid to be sheared and broken into small droplets or particles. The size of the droplets or particles can be controlled by adjusting the pressure and the design of the orifice.[22]

Nanoparticle sizer

A nanoparticle sizer, also known as a nanoparticle analyzer, is a device used to measure the size, size distribution, and concentration of nanoparticles in a sample.[23] [24] The size of nanoparticles is typically in the range of 1 to 100 nanometers (nm), and they are much smaller than the particles that can be measured with conventional particle size analyzers.[25]

Applications

Miniemulsions have wide application in the synthesis of nanomaterials and in the pharmaceutical and food industries.[26] [27] For example, miniemulsion-based processes are, therefore, particularly adapted for the generation of nanomaterials. There is a fundamental difference between traditional emulsion polymerisation and a miniemulsion polymerisation. Particle formation in the former is a mixture of micellar and homogeneous nucleation, particles formed via miniemulsion however are mainly formed by droplet nucleation. In the pharmaceutical industry, oil droplets act as tiny containers that carry water-insoluble drugs, and the water provides a mild environment that is compatible with the human body.[28] [29] Moreover, nanoemulsions that carry drugs allow the drugs to crystallize in a controlled size with a good dissolution rate.[30] [31] Finally, in the food industry, miniemulsions can not only be loaded with water-insoluble nutrients, such as beta-carotene and curcumin, but also improve the nutrients' digestibility. Miniemulsions are also used in the creation of cannabinoid infused beverages and foods. Emulsifying cannabiniods has shown to increase bioavailability and digestion time.[32]

Notes and References

  1. Moghassemi . Saeid . Dadashzadeh . Arezoo . Azevedo . Ricardo Bentes . Amorim . Christiani A. . Nanoemulsion applications in photodynamic therapy . Journal of Controlled Release . 1 November 2022 . 351 . 164–173 . 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.035 . 36165834 . 0168-3659.
  2. Delmas . Thomas . Piraux . Hélène . Couffin . Anne-Claude . Texier . Isabelle . Vinet . Françoise . Poulin . Philippe . Cates . Michael E. . Bibette . Jérôme . 2011-03-01 . How To Prepare and Stabilize Very Small Nanoemulsions . Langmuir . en . 27 . 5 . 1683–1692 . 10.1021/la104221q . 0743-7463 . 21226496.
  3. Albert . Claire . Beladjine . Mohamed . Tsapis . Nicolas . Fattal . Elias . Agnely . Florence . Huang . Nicolas . 2019-09-10 . Pickering emulsions: Preparation processes, key parameters governing their properties and potential for pharmaceutical applications . Journal of Controlled Release . en . 309 . 302–332 . 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.07.003 . 0168-3659 . 31295541 . 195892409. free .
  4. Jesser . Emiliano . Yeguerman . Cristhian . Gili . Valeria . Santillan . Graciela . Murray . Ana Paula . Domini . Claudia . Werdin-González . Jorge Omar . 2020-06-01 . Optimization and Characterization of Essential Oil Nanoemulsions Using Ultrasound for New Ecofriendly Insecticides . ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering . en . 8 . 21 . 7981–7992 . 10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c02224 . 2168-0485 . 11336/144299 . 219489077. free .
  5. Peshkovsky A, Peshkovsky S, "Acoustic Cavitation Theory and Equipment Design Principles for Industrial Applications of High-Intensity Ultrasound", Physics Research and Technology, Nova Science Pub. Inc., October 31, 2010,
  6. http://sonomechanics.com/applications/cosmetic_and_dermatological/translucent_nanoemulsions "Translucent Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsions", Industrial Sonomechanics, LLC, 2011
  7. Gupta. Ankur. Eral. H. Burak. Hatton. T. Alan. Doyle. Patrick S.. 2016. Nanoemulsions: formation, properties and applications.. Soft Matter. 12. 11. http://pubs.rsc.org/-/content/articlehtml/2016/sm/c5sm02958a. 10.1039/C5SM02958A. 26924445. 2016SMat...12.2826G . 1721.1/107439. 40966606 . free.
  8. Capek . Ignác . 2004-03-19 . Degradation of kinetically-stable o/w emulsions . Advances in Colloid and Interface Science . 107 . 2–3 . 125–155 . 10.1016/S0001-8686(03)00115-5 . 0001-8686 . 15026289.
  9. Book: Nanoemulsions: Formulation, Applications, and Characterization 1st Edition.. Jafari. Seid Mahdi. McClements. D. Julian. Academic Press. 2018. 978-0128118382. 10.
  10. Mason TG, Wilking JN, Meleson K, Chang CB, Graves SM, "Nanoemulsions: formation, structure, and physical properties", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 2006, 18(41): R635-R666
  11. Gauthier . Gaëlle . Capron . Isabelle . 2021-12-01 . Pickering nanoemulsions: An overview of manufacturing processes, formulations, and applications . JCIS Open . en . 4 . 100036 . 10.1016/j.jciso.2021.100036 . 244683109 . 2666-934X. free .
  12. Sarheed . Omar . Dibi . Manar . Ramesh . Kanteti V. R. N. S. . 2020-12-17 . Studies on the Effect of Oil and Surfactant on the Formation of Alginate-Based O/W Lidocaine Nanocarriers Using Nanoemulsion Template . Pharmaceutics . en . 12 . 12 . 1223 . 10.3390/pharmaceutics12121223 . 1999-4923 . 7766092 . 33348692. free .
  13. Web site: Themes . U. F. O. . 2021-05-09 . Sterile Filtration of Liquids and Gases . 2023-01-12 . Basicmedical Key . en-US.
  14. Kumar . Manish . Bishnoi . Ram Singh . Shukla . Ajay Kumar . Jain . Chandra Prakash . 2019-09-30 . Techniques for Formulation of Nanoemulsion Drug Delivery System: A Review . Preventive Nutrition and Food Science . en . 24 . 3 . 225–234 . 10.3746/pnf.2019.24.3.225 . 2287-1098 . 6779084 . 31608247.
  15. Web site: The various types of membrane filters and their uses . 2023-01-12 . Next Day Science.
  16. Book: Baker . Richard . Membrane Technology and Applications . Baker . Richard W. . 2004-05-31 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-0-470-85445-7 . en.
  17. Edwards . Marc . Benjamin . Mark M. . 1989 . Adsorptive Filtration Using Coated Sand: A New Approach for Treatment of Metal-Bearing Wastes . Research Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation . 61 . 9/10 . 1523–1533 . 25043770 . 1047-7624.
  18. Web site: 2018-06-20 . Adsorption Is The Key Resources Danamark Watercare . 2023-01-12 . Danamark . en-US.
  19. Onur . Aysu . Ng . Aaron . Batchelor . Warren . Garnier . Gil . 2018 . Multi-Layer Filters: Adsorption and Filtration Mechanisms for Improved Separation . Frontiers in Chemistry . 6 . 417 . 10.3389/fchem.2018.00417 . 30258839 . 6143674 . 2018FrCh....6..417O . 2296-2646. free .
  20. Web site: 2022-06-28 . Everything You Should Know About Homogenization . 2023-01-12 . AZoNano.com . en.
  21. Web site: NanoGenizer High Pressure Homogenizer for Nanomaterials . 2023-01-12 . Technology Networks . en.
  22. Broniarz-Press . L. . Włodarczak . S. . Matuszak . M. . Ochowiak . M. . Idziak . R. . Sobiech . Ł. . Szulc . T. . Skrzypczak . G. . 2016-04-01 . The effect of orifice shape and the injection pressure on enhancement of the atomization process for pressure-swirl atomizers. Crop Protection . en . 82 . 65–74 . 10.1016/j.cropro.2016.01.005 . 2016CrPro..82...65B . 0261-2194.
  23. Aljeldah . Mohammed Mubarak . Yassin . Mohamed Taha . Mostafa . Ashraf Abdel-Fattah . Aboul-Soud . Mourad AM . 2023-01-06 . Synergistic Antibacterial Potential of Greenly Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles with Fosfomycin Against Some Nosocomial Bacterial Pathogens . Infection and Drug Resistance . English . 16 . 125–142 . 10.2147/IDR.S394600. 36636381 . 9831080 . 255592211 . free .
  24. Web site: Dual-Light Nano Particle Sizer . 2023-01-12 . www.genizer.com . en.
  25. Hoshyar . Nazanin . Gray . Samantha . Han . Hongbin . Bao . Gang . March 2016 . The effect of nanoparticle size on in vivo pharmacokinetics and cellular interaction . Nanomedicine . en . 11 . 6 . 673–692 . 10.2217/nnm.16.5 . 1743-5889 . 5561790 . 27003448.
  26. Azmi . Nor Azrini Nadiha . Elgharbawy . Amal A. M. . Motlagh . Shiva Rezaei . Samsudin . Nurhusna . Salleh . Hamzah Mohd . September 2019 . Nanoemulsions: Factory for Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics . Processes . en . 7 . 9 . 617 . 10.3390/pr7090617 . 2227-9717. free .
  27. Ashaolu . Tolulope Joshua . 2021-08-01 . Nanoemulsions for health, food, and cosmetics: a review . Environmental Chemistry Letters . en . 19 . 4 . 3381–3395 . 10.1007/s10311-021-01216-9 . 1610-3661 . 7956871 . 33746662. 2021EnvCL..19.3381A .
  28. Guo . Yi . Teo . Victoria L. . Ting . S. R. Simon . Zetterlund . Per B. . May 2012 . Miniemulsion polymerization based on in situ surfactant formation without high-energy homogenization: effects of organic acid and counter ion . Polymer Journal . en . 44 . 5 . 375–381 . 10.1038/pj.2012.7 . 1349-0540. free .
  29. Aizpurua . Imanol . Barandiaran . Marı́a J. . 1999-06-01 . Comparison between conventional emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate in a continuous stirred tank reactor . Polymer . en . 40 . 14 . 4105–4115 . 10.1016/S0032-3861(98)00641-7 . 0032-3861.
  30. Azeem . Adnan . Rizwan . Mohammad . Ahmad . Farhan J. . Iqbal . Zeenat . Khar . Roop K. . Aqil . M. . Talegaonkar . Sushama . March 2009 . Nanoemulsion Components Screening and Selection: a Technical Note . AAPS PharmSciTech . en . 10 . 1 . 69–76 . 10.1208/s12249-008-9178-x . 1530-9932 . 2663668 . 19148761.
  31. Jacob . Shery . Nair . Anroop B. . Shah . Jigar . December 2020 . Emerging role of nanosuspensions in drug delivery systems . Biomaterials Research . en . 24 . 1 . 3 . 10.1186/s40824-020-0184-8 . 2055-7124 . 6964012 . 31969986 . free .
  32. Nakano . Yukako . Tajima . Masataka . Sugiyama . Erika . Sato . Vilasinee Hirunpanich . Sato . Hitoshi . September 2019 . Development of a Novel Nano-emulsion Formulation to Improve Intestinal Absorption of Cannabidiol . Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids . 2 . 1 . 35–42 . 10.1159/000497361 . 2504-3889 . 8489317 . 34676332.

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