Liu Yiping, Qiu Weixiang, Mo Yalan, Tian Jing, Liao Muxiang, Jia Binghong, Zhou Qian, Liu Feichi, Li Xiaogang
Institute of Cotton and Sericulture, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410127, China.
Engineering & Technology Research Center for Bio Pesticide and Formulating Processing, College of Plant Protection, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
Molecules. 2025 Aug 24;30(17):3478. doi: 10.3390/molecules30173478.
This study involved developing a Pickering emulsion system based on a composite material comprising zein colloidal particles (ZCPs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with the aim of exploring its potential application in fruit preservation by loading carvacrol (CAR). The system (CAR@ZCPE) consists of ZCP particles with an average size of approximately 317 nm in a composite with CNC particles of approximately 85 nm at an optimal mass ratio (ZCP/CNC = 1:3) to form stable particles encapsulating CAR. The results indicate that CAR@ZCPE is an O/W Pickering emulsion that can be diluted indefinitely in water and exhibits excellent environmental stability. Rheological analysis revealed that it exhibits shear-thinning properties and a gel-like network structure, which explains its good stability. Bioactivity evaluation revealed that CAR@ZCPE exhibited inhibitory activity against , with an inhibition rate of 63.60% at a concentration of 50 mg/L. Kiwifruit preservation experiments confirmed that CAR@ZCPE significantly reduced the degree of kiwifruit decay, and cell activity evaluations confirmed its biosafety. The total apoptotic rate of LO2 cells was 2.10%, indicating that the emulsion did not affect the cell growth cycle. This study successfully developed a CAR Pickering emulsion stabilized by ZCP-CNC composite particles. This emulsion system combines high stability, excellent antibacterial activity, and excellent biocompatibility. Kiwifruit preservation experiments validated its potential as a safe and efficient new preservative, providing an innovative method for preserving fruits using ZCP-CNC-composite-stabilized Pickering emulsions.
本研究涉及基于包含玉米醇溶蛋白胶体颗粒（ZCPs）和纤维素纳米晶体（CNCs）的复合材料开发一种Pickering乳液体系，目的是通过负载香芹酚（CAR）探索其在水果保鲜中的潜在应用。该体系（CAR@ZCPE）由平均粒径约为317 nm的ZCP颗粒与粒径约为85 nm的CNC颗粒以最佳质量比（ZCP/CNC = 1:3）复合而成，形成包裹CAR的稳定颗粒。结果表明，CAR@ZCPE是一种水包油型Pickering乳液，可在水中无限稀释，并具有优异的环境稳定性。流变学分析表明，它具有剪切变稀特性和凝胶状网络结构，这解释了其良好的稳定性。生物活性评估表明，CAR@ZCPE对 表现出抑制活性，在浓度为50 mg/L时抑制率为63.60%。猕猴桃保鲜实验证实，CAR@ZCPE显著降低了猕猴桃的腐烂程度，细胞活性评估证实了其生物安全性。LO2细胞的总凋亡率为2.10%，表明该乳液不影响细胞生长周期。本研究成功开发了一种由ZCP-CNC复合颗粒稳定的CAR Pickering乳液。该乳液体系兼具高稳定性、优异的抗菌活性和良好的生物相容性。猕猴桃保鲜实验验证了其作为一种安全高效的新型防腐剂的潜力，为使用ZCP-CNC复合稳定的Pickering乳液保鲜水果提供了一种创新方法。
