Stimuli-Responsive Pickering Emulsions Regulated via Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly Nanoparticles

With the development of reversible deactivated radical polymerization techniques, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) is emerging as a facile method to prepare block copolymer nanoparticles in situ with high concentrations, providing wide potential applications in different fields, including nanomedicine, coatings, nanomanufacture, and Pickering emulsions. Polymeric emulsifiers synthesized by PISA have many advantages comparing with conventional nanoparticle emulsifiers. The morphologies, size, and amphiphilicity can be readily regulated via the synthetic process, post-modification, and external stimuli. By introducing stimulus responsiveness into PISA nanoparticles, Pickering emulsions stabilized with these nanoparticles can be endowed with smart behaviors. The emulsions can be regulated in reversible emulsification and demulsification. In this review, the authors focus on recent progress on Pickering emulsions stabilized by PISA nanoparticles with stimuli-responsiveness. The factors affecting the stability of emulsions during emulsification and demulsification are discussed in details. Furthermore, some viewpoints for preparing stimuli-responsive emulsions and their applications in antibacterial agents, diphase reaction platforms, and multi-emulsions are discussed as well. Finally, the future developments and applications of stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsions stabilized by PISA nanoparticles are highlighted.

Automated summary

With reversible deactivated radical polymerization techniques, polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) has become a convenient method for preparing block copolymer nanoparticles in situ with high concentrations. These nanoparticles have wide potential applications in nanomedicine, coatings, nanomanufacture, and Pickering emulsions. By introducing stimulus responsiveness into PISA nanoparticles, Pickering emulsions stabilized with these nanoparticles can exhibit smart behaviors, allowing reversible emulsification and demulsification. This review focuses on recent progress in Pickering emulsions stabilized by stimuli-responsive PISA nanoparticles, discussing factors affecting the stability during emulsification and demulsification, as well as exploring applications in antibacterial agents, diphase reaction platforms, and multi-emulsions. The future developments and applications of stimuli-responsive Pickering emulsions stabilized by PISA nanoparticles are also highlighted.