Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector

The growing interest in the utilization of natural plant-derived products, particularly essential oils as eco-friendly agrochemicals has spurred the consumer demand for clean-label products. Due to their robust antimicrobial and pesticidal properties, essential oils (EOs) exhibit significant potenti...

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Main Authors: Amit Kumar, Rohini Kanwar, S.K. Mehta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Next Nanotechnology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949829524000573
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author Amit Kumar
Rohini Kanwar
S.K. Mehta
author_facet Amit Kumar
Rohini Kanwar
S.K. Mehta
author_sort Amit Kumar
collection DOAJ
description The growing interest in the utilization of natural plant-derived products, particularly essential oils as eco-friendly agrochemicals has spurred the consumer demand for clean-label products. Due to their robust antimicrobial and pesticidal properties, essential oils (EOs) exhibit significant potential in food preservation and agricultural applications. However, the poor aqueous stability and highly volatile nature of EOs limit their potential for practical applications in their pure form. In response, nanoemulsions (NEms) have emerged as promising delivery vehicles for EOs, offering advantages such as smaller size, high solubilization capacity, excellent encapsulation efficiency, and controlled release characteristics.Here we review the recent advancements in the fabrication, optimization, and stability of EO NEms. The present article provides an in-depth exploration of all the currently available high-energy (ultrasonication, micro fluidization, high-pressure homogenization, rotor-stator mixer) and low-energy (spontaneous emulsification, phase inversion composition, emulsion inversion point, phase inversion temperature) methods being used for the fabrication of NEms and the respective advantages and disadvantages associated with them. Additionally, the review discusses various destabilization mechanisms such as Ostwald ripening, coalescence, etc. that generally impact essential oil NEms, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges associated with their stability. Furthermore, the review focuses on the recent practical applications of NEms in the sector of food preservation, flavoring agents, and sustainable agricultural practices.
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spelling doaj-art-58a3d31020d24c728a5acfd4e367e1d22025-08-20T02:37:03ZengElsevierNext Nanotechnology2949-82952025-01-01710009610.1016/j.nxnano.2024.100096Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sectorAmit Kumar0Rohini Kanwar1S.K. Mehta2Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, IndiaBuckman Laboratories International, Inc., Memphis, TN 38108, USADepartment of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India; University of Ladakh Leh, Ladakh 194101, India; Corresponding author at: Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India,The growing interest in the utilization of natural plant-derived products, particularly essential oils as eco-friendly agrochemicals has spurred the consumer demand for clean-label products. Due to their robust antimicrobial and pesticidal properties, essential oils (EOs) exhibit significant potential in food preservation and agricultural applications. However, the poor aqueous stability and highly volatile nature of EOs limit their potential for practical applications in their pure form. In response, nanoemulsions (NEms) have emerged as promising delivery vehicles for EOs, offering advantages such as smaller size, high solubilization capacity, excellent encapsulation efficiency, and controlled release characteristics.Here we review the recent advancements in the fabrication, optimization, and stability of EO NEms. The present article provides an in-depth exploration of all the currently available high-energy (ultrasonication, micro fluidization, high-pressure homogenization, rotor-stator mixer) and low-energy (spontaneous emulsification, phase inversion composition, emulsion inversion point, phase inversion temperature) methods being used for the fabrication of NEms and the respective advantages and disadvantages associated with them. Additionally, the review discusses various destabilization mechanisms such as Ostwald ripening, coalescence, etc. that generally impact essential oil NEms, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges associated with their stability. Furthermore, the review focuses on the recent practical applications of NEms in the sector of food preservation, flavoring agents, and sustainable agricultural practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949829524000573Essential oilNanoemulsionAgrochemicalsOstwald ripeningCoalescenceUltrasonication
spellingShingle Amit Kumar
Rohini Kanwar
S.K. Mehta
Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
Next Nanotechnology
Essential oil
Nanoemulsion
Agrochemicals
Ostwald ripening
Coalescence
Ultrasonication
title Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
title_full Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
title_fullStr Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
title_full_unstemmed Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
title_short Nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils: Properties, formulation methods, destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri-food sector
title_sort nanoemulsion as an effective delivery vehicle for essential oils properties formulation methods destabilizing mechanisms and applications in agri food sector
topic Essential oil
Nanoemulsion
Agrochemicals
Ostwald ripening
Coalescence
Ultrasonication
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949829524000573
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AT rohinikanwar nanoemulsionasaneffectivedeliveryvehicleforessentialoilspropertiesformulationmethodsdestabilizingmechanismsandapplicationsinagrifoodsector
AT skmehta nanoemulsionasaneffectivedeliveryvehicleforessentialoilspropertiesformulationmethodsdestabilizingmechanismsandapplicationsinagrifoodsector