Dual-responsive magnetoliposome-stabilized Pickering emulsion alginate hydrogel beads for oral drug delivery

Magnetoliposomes (MLPs) are hybrid nanostructures formed by incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) into phospholipid bilayers that resemble biological membranes. Their biocompatibility, magnetic responsiveness, and tunable surface properties make them attractive colloidal systems for the design of advanced materials. In the context of Pickering emulsions, MLP serves as an effective stabilizer at the oil–water interface, offering both steric and magnetic control over emulsion stability. Their amphiphilic nature allows them to anchor at the interface, while the embedded SPIONs provide external responsiveness to magnetic fields. However, their structural instability under harsh gastrointestinal conditions limits their performance in oral delivery applications. To reinforce the gastrointestinal stability of this system, we developed a robust dual-responsive hydrogel bead system embedded with MLP-stabilized Pickering emulsion. By integrating biopolymer-based hydrogel networks with interfacially active MLPs, the resulting composite beads exhibited enhanced structural integrity, pH/magnetic-responsiveness, and stability under simulated gastrointestinal environments. The system enabled simultaneous encapsulation of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, demonstrating resistance to premature leakage. Furthermore, interfacial and physicochemical analyses confirmed the stability and functionality of MLPs as effective emulsifiers within the hydrogel matrix. These findings highlight the potential of MLP-stabilized Pickering emulsion hydrogels as versatile platforms for stimuli-responsive delivery systems, with relevance in oral delivery applications.