Dynamic host-guest interfacial recognition of alginate-based β-cyclodextrin/cholic acid supra-amphiphiles for stabilizing multi-type Pickering emulsion

The multi-type Pickering emulsions were formed by macromolecule-based soft colloidal emulsifiers due to its great architectural tailorability. Herein, the supramolecular β-cyclodextrin-modified alginate/cholic acid-grafted alkyl chain (SA-CD/CA-C12) system was designed by β-CD/CA-engineered host-guest molecular recognition at oil-water interface. Especially, supra-amphiphilic SA-CD/CA-C12 self-assemblies acted as excellent colloidal surfactant with high interfacial activity (0.74 mN/m), and the interfacial adsorption films exhibited higher coverages and thickness in contrast to that of alone amphiphilic SA-CD, and CA-C12 system, further preventing interdroplets aggregation, collision, and coalescence. Furthermore, the W/O, bicontinuous, and O/W emulsions were generated by altering the oil/water volume ratio due to the dynamical host-guest recognition-induced self-regulated flexibility of macromolecular architectonics. Additionally, the microstructures of supramolecular host-guest emulsion-templated aerogel were regulated by tuning the aggregation behaviors of supramolecular host-guest interfacial system, providing a new strategy for engineering soft materials.