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Brian Vincent and co-workers developed synthetic methods for the preparation of monodispersed “silicone oil” in water emulsions and further to crosslink these droplets into microgel particles. These highly versatile experimental systems have proven to be excellent novel model colloids which have inspired numerous subsequent studies over the last decade or more. In this chapter examples of colloid and interfacial investigations of monodisperse “silicone oil”/water emulsions are reported; a particular focus is on the ability to control droplet deformability and its impact on interfacial properties and interactions. The following areas are highlighted.

  1. Interaction forces on single silicone oil droplets determined using colloid probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the determination of droplet deformation on a nanometre scale and nanorheological properties of cross-linked droplets.

  2. Rheological studies on concentrated emulsions of silicone droplets with different levels of cross-linking.

  3. Adsorption of poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers at the silicone droplet interface: the influence of polymer architecture and the droplet cross-linking level on the adsorbed polymer layer structure.

  4. Interaction studies of silica nanoparticles at the silicone droplet interface: the influence of nanoparticle wettability and the droplet cross-linking level on the adsorbed particle layer structure and droplet stability.

  5. Transport of poorly soluble molecules across the silicone droplet–water interface and the influence of nanoparticle layers. These transport studies have led to investigations of the loading and release of poorly soluble molecules (model drug compounds) from the silicone droplets and the observation that nanoparticle layers influence the release behaviour. These studies have formed the basis of a patented drug carrier technology that improves in vitro and in vivo drug delivery characteristics and is under development for applications for dermal and oral delivery.

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