Polysaccharide-based pickering emulsions: a mini review on biomedical potential and functional interfaces

Polysaccharide-based Pickering emulsions (PEs) have attracted increasing attention as next-generation colloidal systems owing to their excellent biocompatibility, environmental responsiveness, and structural tunability. This mini review systematically summarizes recent advances in the design, stabilization mechanisms, and biomedical applications of polysaccharide particle-stabilized PEs. Emphasis is placed on how particle properties—such as size, morphology, and surface chemistry—govern interfacial adsorption, emulsion stability, and functional performance. Strategies for structural design are discussed in detail, including physical modulation (e.g., milling, drying), chemical modification (e.g., hydrophobic group grafting, pH-responsiveness), and advanced assembly approaches such as self-assembly and hybrid co-assembly with proteins, lipids, and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). These design principles not only improve interfacial stabilization but also enable integration of biofunctionalities including mucoadhesion, antioxidation, and targeted delivery. The mini review further highlights the diverse biomedical applications of polysaccharide PEs, particularly in controlled drug release, oral delivery, and stimuli-responsive therapeutic systems. Recent advances in responsive emulsions capable of reacting to pH, enzymes, temperature, magnetic fields, and metabolic triggers are discussed, showcasing their promise in precision medicine. Despite their potential, key challenges remain, including batch-to-batch variability, unclear metabolic fate of modified polysaccharides, and the lack of regulatory consensus for clinical translation. Looking forward, the integration of green synthesis, high-throughput design, and computational modeling is expected to accelerate the development of multifunctional, intelligent PEs. With interdisciplinary collaboration, polysaccharide-based PEs are poised to evolve from interfacial stabilizers into versatile platforms for biomedical, food, and personal care applications.