Nanostarch: Preparation, Modification, and Application in Pickering Emulsions

Nanostarch, as a food-grade Pickering emulsion stabilizer, has attracted wide attention owing to its biodegradability, nontoxicity, small size, and large specific surface area. In this review, the preparation, modification, and application of Pickering emulsions incorporating nanostarch are described. At present, methods for nanostarch preparation mainly include acid hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis combined with other treatments, nanoprecipitation, ultrasonication, ball milling, and cross-linking. Nanostarch is a promising Pickering emulsion stabilizer, and its emulsifying ability of nanostarch is significantly improved by hydrophobic modification. The hydrophobicity, charge, size, and content of nanostarch affect the emulsion stability. Future developments in this area of research include the efficient and environmentally friendly preparation of nanostarch as well as the control of its hydrophobicity via modification. Future studies should focus on the digestibility and storage stability of Pickering emulsions stabilized by nanostarch under different conditions.