Hydrocolloids: Characteristics and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the capability of supermolecular objects in the range of nanometers to micrometers to respond sensitively to changing milieu conditions, colloids—or rather colloidal systems—constitute a wide range of practical applications. In addition to molecular-level solvent/solute systems, colloidal systems comprise an equilibrium of three phases: a continuous phase (c), a phase of dispersed or emulsified supermolecular objects in this medium (d), and a phase of modifiers (m) distributed or more or less dissolved in both phases, represented by charged or neutral small molecules or polymers. Thus, the control of colloidal systems requires molecular-level information (chemical composition distribution) of each of these phases, information about the contribution of the binary states (c-d, c-m, d-m), monitoring of dimensions and electrokinetic mobilities, estimation of supermolecular interface forces, and data on response capability spectrum upon applied external forces. Additionally, consequences of variations in applied procedures, e.g., dependences on various modes and/or the sequence and intensity of applied steps, need to be considered.

Major fields of application for colloidal systems with an aqueous continuous phase include industrial food processing and the design of pharmaceutical compounds. Stabilization of nutritional values with an appropriate texture and organoleptic acceptance in the framework of legal regulations at affordable costs are interesting issues, as well as targeted transport mechanisms and retarded release of active compounds. Practically, the challenge is the reproducible production and handling of colloidal systems. Sensitive mixtures of homogeneous and heterogeneous partitions where the law of masses, the crucial approach in traditional chemistry, decreases to a sidekick status of dissolution, and electrokinetic mobilities become increasingly important. Additionally, flow behavior, adsorption characteristics, and response capabilities upon controlled stress on diffuse structures and objects up to the micrometer range become dominant.

This Special Issue invites the submission of original research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on hydrocolloidal systems. Topics of interest include their production and synthesis, analysis and characterization, as well as instances of applications, among other relevant themes.

Dr. Anton Huber
Guest Editor

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