New Scientific Breakthrough: Oil and Water Do Mix, Without Surfactant

Calyxia is excited to announce a pioneering discovery in emulsion science, in collaboration with ESPCI Paris – PSL, CNRS – Centre national de la recherche scientifique, and Harvard University.

Surfacing a New Era in Emulsion Science

Our recent work on surfactant-free emulsions, published in Science Magazine, redefines the boundaries of formulation chemistry and material science. We have demonstrated that some polymeric oils can form a thin, stabilizing film between water droplets in an emulsion. This creates an adhesive interaction that prevents coalescence for several weeks, all without the use of surfactants or additional solvents.

Implications for Microencapsulation and Beyond

Stabilizing emulsions is a crucial step in the production of microcapsules. The ability to control and exploit surfactant-free emulsions means we can now produce more natural solutions with fewer ingredients. This discovery has far-reaching implications across various industries:

Pharmaceuticals: Potential for more natural formulations.
Food Applications: Reduction or elimination of surfactants can lower costs and environmental impact.
Material Science: Opens up new possibilities for cleaner, greener, and higher-performance products.

To learn more about this groundbreaking work, click here.

Key Contributors: Claire Nannette, Jean Baudry, Anqi Chen, Yiqiao Song, Abdulwahed Shglabow, Nicolas Bremond, Damien Démoulin, Jamie Walters, David Weitz, Jerome Bibette