Researchers at the University of Sheffield used an LV-1 Microfluidizer to develop oil-in-water nanoemulsions that were occluded within a calcite crystalline lattice.
Lead researcher, Professor Steve Armes, said "It is well known that oil and water do not mix. Similarly, the incorporation of oil droplets within inorganic crystals is highly counter-intuitive because there is a large difference in surface energy for these two components. Our new occlusion protocol, developed using the high-pressure LV-1 microfluidizer, has enabled either oil-soluble dyes or oil-dispersible hydrophobic nanoparticles to be incorporated for the first time within host crystals.”
This innovation has the potential to be used as an environmentally supportive matrix for the microencapsulation and controlled release of a variety of actives for various commercial applications. The high shear homogenizer, LV-1 Microfluidizer, is capable of applying its processing ability to samples 1-6 ml and achieve operating pressures of up to 30,000 psi.