Physical Stability, Autoxidation, and Photosensitized Oxidation of ω-3 Oils in Nanoemulsions Prepared with Natural and Synthetic Surfactants

The food industry is interested in the utilization of nanoemulsions stabilized by natural emulsifiers, but little research has been conducted to determine the oxidative stability of such emulsions. In this study, two natural (lecithin and quillaja saponin) and two synthetic (Tween 80 and sodium dodecyl sulfate) surfactants were used to fabricate omega-3 nanoemulsion using high pressure homogenization (microfluidization). Initially, all the nanoemulsions contained small (d from 45 to 89 nm) and anionic (zeta-potential from -8 to -65 mV) lipid droplets (pH 7). The effect of pH, ionic strength, and temperature on the physical stability of the nanoemulsion system was examined. Nanoemulsion stabilized with Tween 80, quillaja saponin, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) exhibited no major changes in particle size or visible creaming in the pH range of 3 to 8. All nanoemulsions were relatively stable to salt addition (0 to 500 mM NaCl, pH 7.0). Nanoemulsions stabilized with SDS and quillaja saponin were stable to heating (30 to 90 degrees C). The impact of surfactant type on lipid oxidation was determined in the presence and absence of the singlet oxygen photosensitizers, riboflavin, and rose bengal. Riboflavin and rose bengal accelerated lipid oxidation when compare to samples without photosensitizers. Lipid hydroperoxide formation followed the order Tween 80 > SDS > lecithin > quillaja saponin, and propanal formation followed the order lecithin > Tween 80 > SDS > quillaja saponin at 37 degrees C for autoxidation. The same order of oxidative stability was observed in the presence of photosensitized oxidation promoted by riboflavin. Quillaja saponin consistently produced the most oxidatively stable emulsions, which could be due to its high free radical scavenging capacity.