Nanoemulsion: Formation, Characterization, Properties and Applications - A Review

Abstract

In this paper, the formation, characterizaton, properties and applications of nanoemulsions are reviewed and summarized. Nanoemulsions are under extensive investigation as it can aid to recover the residual oil from reservoir rock in Oil Recovery application because of the submicron sized emulsion. Nanoemulsion is thermodynamically or kinetically stable system in which two or more immiscible phases that is made up at least one phase dispersed in others by mechanical shearing with appropriate surfactants. Nanoemulsions possess stability against creaming or sedimentation due to their small particle size while Ostwald ripening forming the main mechanism of nanoemulsion breakdown. Nanoemulsion has droplet sizes of the internal phase less than 500nm. Particle size and surface properties of droplets of nanoemulsion plays an important factor in the biological behavior of the formulation. Nanoemulsion shows great promise for the future of oil industries and biotechnologies, cosmetics and drug therapies.