Light-tuning amphiphility of host-guest Alginate-based supramolecular assemblies for photo-responsive Pickering emulsions

Xinyu Zhao; Xiuqin Fang; Shujuan Yang; Siqi Zhang; Gaobo Yu; Yuanyuan Liu; Yang Zhou; Yuhong Feng; Jiacheng Li

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117072

Light-tuning amphiphility of host-guest Alginate-based supramolecular assemblies for photo-responsive Pickering emulsions

Carbohydr Polym. 2021 Jan 1:251:117072. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117072. Epub 2020 Sep 12.

Authors

Xinyu Zhao¹, Xiuqin Fang¹, Shujuan Yang¹, Siqi Zhang¹, Gaobo Yu¹, Yuanyuan Liu¹, Yang Zhou², Yuhong Feng³, Jiacheng Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China.
² Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China. Electronic address: yzhou@hainanu.edu.cn.
³ Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China. Electronic address: hn136.631@163.com.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials of Tropical Island Resources of Ministry of Education and School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, China. Electronic address: lijiacheng@hainanu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33142617
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117072

Abstract

Various Pickering emulsions-based system have been increasing demand for potential applications in a wide variety of fields. However, tunable emulsifiers and controllable Pickering emulsions with the ability to respond to external triggers remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we demonstrate the photo-tuning amphiphilicity in Pickering emulsions using β-cyclodextrin-grafted alginate and azobenzene derivative supramolecular self-assemblies as photoactivatable emulsifiers. Specifically, the photoisomerization of a host-guest system between β-cyclodextrin and azobenzene derivative was employed to tailor the polarity of the microenvironment, resulting in the reversible variation of hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. The photoactivatable emulsifier based on supramolecular self-assemblies could effectively destabilize o/w emulsions by tailoring the amphiphilic balance at oil-water interface under an external UV irradiation, leading to the oil-water separation from Pickering emulsion. The light regulating demulsification is further showcased here by the photodelivery of hydrophobic model drug. Finally, this study provides a sustainable yet eco-friendly formulation for the fabrication of stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsions.

Keywords: Alginate derivative; Amphiphilicity host-guest interaction; Azobenzene derivative; Photochemistry; Stimuli-responsive emulsifier; Tuning the amphiphilicity at oil-water interface.