Pickering emulsions stabilized by hydrophobically modified alginate nanoparticles: Preparation and pH-responsive performance in vitro

pH-responsive Pickering emulsions were prepared, taking the hydrophobic modified calcium alginate nanoparticles (MCA) of pH sensitivity as emulsifiers. The MCAs were obtained via gelation between Ca2+ in emulsion and alginate sodium that reacted with diacetone acrylamide since alginate sodium was too hydrophilic to be used as a stabilizer. The effect of MCA characteristics, Ca2+ content, and pH on the preparation and property of emulsion was evaluated. Then, the released behaviors of MCA-stabilized emulsion loading oil-soluble drug of curcumin were investigated in vitro. The results demonstrated that Pickering emulsions released curcumin intestine-specifically (37% in 4 hours with a pH of 6.8), compared with the one in the gastric fluid (3% in 4 hours with a pH of 1.5), proving that MCA had similar pH sensitivity to alginates and probably as the promising candidate in oral drug controllable release.