Cellulose Nanocrystals-Stabilized Acidic W1/O/W2 Emulsions for Anthocyanins Encapsulation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The limited stability of anthocyanins restricts their application in the food industry, necessitating encapsulation to prevent degradation. This study fabricated an anthocyanin-rich acidic water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsion system stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Anthocyanins extracted from the by-product peels of ‘France’ Prunus domestica L. were incorporated into the inner aqueous phase (W1). The internal phase (W1/O) ratio was increased to 40% (w/w) to enhance anthocyanin loading capacity. CNCs were sonicated to reduce their size and improve their interfacial properties, thereby enhancing the emulsifying capacity. Sonicated CNCs combined with whey protein isolate (WPI) significantly improved double emulsion performance compared to the non-sonicated CNCs–WPI system: (1) reduced D43 from 8.50 µm to 4.35 µm; (2) elevated ζ-potential from 7.49 ± 0.99 mV to 10.07 ± 1.50 mV; and (3) improved encapsulation efficiency from 52.96 ± 2.60% to 83.39 ± 0.96%. Furthermore, encapsulated anthocyanins exhibited significantly enhanced thermal stability compared to free anthocyanins, with the half-life at 50 °C increasing from 14.72 ± 0.35 h to 70.37 ± 0.51 h. This study demonstrates that modifying nanoparticle interfacial properties provides valuable insights for designing stable emulsions and enhancing anthocyanin stability.
Source: Foods
Authors: Jieru Wu, Liuping Fan
Institution: Jiangnan University
Language: English
Topic: Proteins in Food Systems
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,499
OpenAlex ID: W7133802791