Miniemulsion

A miniemulsion (also known as nanoemulsion) is a particular type of emulsion. A miniemulsion is obtained by ultrasonicating a mixture comprising two immiscible liquid phases (for example, oil and water), one or more surfactants and, possibly, one or more co-surfactants (typical examples are hexadecane or cetyl alcohol). They usually have nanodroplets with uniform size distribution (20–500 nm) and are also known as sub-micron, mini-, and ultra-fine grain emulsions.[1]

Schematic illustration of nanoemulsion structure, including the biphasic systems (O/W or W/O), in which an appropriate volume of the internal oil phase is disseminated in the bulk aqueous solution or vice versa; and the multiple systems (W/O/W or O/W/O), within a single system, the inner water phase is dispersed in an oil phase, which is then dispersed in a bulk aqueous phase or vice versa.[2]
  1. ^ Moghassemi, Saeid; Dadashzadeh, Arezoo; Azevedo, Ricardo Bentes; Amorim, Christiani A. (1 November 2022). "Nanoemulsion applications in photodynamic therapy". Journal of Controlled Release. 351: 164–173. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.035. ISSN 0168-3659. PMID 36165834.
  2. ^ Moghassemi, Saeid; Dadashzadeh, Arezoo; Azevedo, Ricardo Bentes; Amorim, Christiani A. (1 November 2022). "Nanoemulsion applications in photodynamic therapy". Journal of Controlled Release. 351: 164–173. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.09.035. ISSN 0168-3659. PMID 36165834.