Cellulose-Based Pickering Emulsions for Antimicrobial Applications

Nanocelluloses are increasingly used to stabilize Pickering emulsions due to their sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable characteristicsBiodegradable characteristics. In particular, two morphologies are highlighted: cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF)Cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The nanocellulose unique surface chemistry and intrinsic properties result in irreversible adsorption at the interface of the droplets, and the particles form an interfacial layer around the droplets to guarantee stability and modify the emulsion rheology. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the latest information on the CNC or CNF-based Pickering emulsions with antimicrobial activity, focusing on essential oils as the oil phase ofOil/water emulsions oil/water emulsionsOil in-water emulsions. However, there are other emulsions systems that solid particles are used to stabilize, such as oil/oil, oil/water, water/oil, oil/water/oil, and others. In addition, we examine antimicrobial Pickering emulsion applications for food and biomedical productsBiomedical products. While the food industry focuses on the emulsions used to add functional properties to the food or in active packaging, the biomedical sector uses antimicrobial Pickering emulsions on wound dressings and scaffold templates. However, there are still challenges that need to be overcome to use these emulsions as a commercial productCommercial product, mainly considering biosafety aspects. Regardless of the challenges, Pickering emulsions have a growth potential expected to be continuous and increased over the next few years.