Bio‐Based Coatings and Free‐Standing Films from Starch‐Based Pickering Emulsions

ABSTRACT We report on free‐standing Pickering films and analogous coatings on food‐contact‐grade polyamide‐4,10 substrates. Here prepared Pickering emulsions consist of medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT) oil droplets dispersed in an aqueous matrix and stabilized by starch granules. Phase behavior and stability were evaluated for Pickering emulsions prepared with dehydrated rice starch, dehydrated maize starch, dehydrated potato starch, and sodium octenyl succinate (SOS)‐modified waxy maize starch. Uniform, fully emulsified, and stable systems obtained with dehydrated potato starch and SOS‐modified waxy starch were selected for film formation. Films and coatings were fabricated by electrospraying and solidified using pectin in the aqueous phase. Compared to pectin‐only reference films, these films exhibit lower Vickers hardness and reduced water vapor permeability. Practical applications : Pickering emulsion‐based films may find use in food packaging and could serve as carriers for lipophilic compounds. The fabrication methods are scalable, supporting potential translation to industrial production.