Nanoemulsions: Applications and Benefits

Nanoemulsions are dispersions of nanoscale droplets of one liquid in another immiscible liquid. They are used in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food for improved delivery of active ingredients.
Category
Product
Where to get
Commonly used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Nanoemulsions FAQ


Image credit: ascensionsciences.com

What is a nanoemulsion?

Nanoemulsions are nano-sized emulsions, which are manufactured for improving the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. These are the thermodynamically stable isotropic system in which two immiscible liquids are mixed to form a single phase by means of an emulsifying agent, i.e., surfactant and co-surfactant.

What are the properties of nanoemulsions?

In terms of physicochemical properties, nanoemulsions are positioned between microemulsions and traditional emulsions. The particle size range is between 30 and 100 nm which causes their typical blue-shining appearance. These small particle sizes prevent creaming, and, as a result, nanoemulsions often have satisfactory long-term stability.

How are nanoemulsions formed?

Nanoemulsions are formed when an emulsifier is involved in the mixture of two immiscible liquids to form stable but kinetic dispersions with droplet sizes and diameters of ≤ 100 nm and 20–200 nm, respectively.

What is the size of a nanoemulsion?

Nanoemulsions have droplets with diameter on the order of 100 nm. As the droplet size is significantly smaller than the wavelength of visible light, nanoemulsions are often transparent in appearance ( Fig. 8 ).

Are nanoemulsions kinetically stable?

Nanoemulsions are kinetically stable liquid-in-liquid dispersions with droplet sizes on the order of 100 nm. Their small size leads to useful properties such as high surface area per unit volume, robust stability, optically transparent appearance, and tunable rheology.

Why are nanoemulsions important?

Their small size leads to useful properties such as high surface area per unit volume, robust stability, optically transparent appearance, and tunable rheology. Nanoemulsions are finding application in diverse areas such as drug delivery, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and material synthesis.

Nanoemulsions References

If you want to know more about Nanoemulsions, consider exploring links below:

Explore Related Topics

Are there effective alternatives to antibiotics that could help combat resistance?

Explore innovative approaches and alternative treatments that could help address antibiotic resistance and reduce reliance on traditional antibiotics. From phage therapy to probiotics, what emerging solutions show promise in combating resistant bacteria and infections? Share your views on potential alternatives to antibiotics in the era of increasing resistance.