Impact of microemulsion inspired approaches on the formation and destabilisation mechanisms of triglyceride nanoemulsions.

Even after 30+ years of research, there are still few examples of physically stable transparent nanoemulsions despite their high potential to revolutionise pharmaceutical, personal care, and food products. In this study, we examine how low-energy "microemulsion inspired" (co-solvent/co-surfactant) approaches impact the formation and destabilisation mechanisms of homogenised triglyceride nanoemulsions. The addition of n-alcohol co-solvents and Span 80 co-surfactants had two effects on nanoemulsion droplet diameter; a beneficial one that reduced droplet diameter from 120 to 50 nm and a deleterious one that caused destabilisation.