Stimuli-Responsive Emulsions
Oil and water are naturally immiscible, but they can be combined through emulsions. In our group, we stabilize emulsions with pH- or temperature-sensitive microgel particles. These particles keep the emulsion stable over a long period and can break it down in response to external stimuli. This technique enables precise drug release and offers many possibilities for future applications.
In our recent study we have established that thermo-responsive emulsion behaviour is primarily determined by interactions between, rather than within, interfaces. Consequently, the stability of these emulsions is intricately tied to the nature of the stabilizing microgel particles - whether they are more polymeric or colloidal, and the morphology they assume at the liquid interface. The colloidal properties of the microgels provide the foundation for the long-term stability of Pickering emulsions. However, limited deformability can lead to non-responsive emulsions. Conversely, the polymeric properties of the microgels enable them to spread and flatten at the liquid interface, enabling stimuli-responsive behaviour. This underscores the pivotal role of microgel morphology and the forces they exert on liquid interfaces in the control and design of stimuli-responsive emulsions and interfaces.
