Abstract:Objective To construct theaflavins (TFs)-bovine serum albumin (BSA) complex-based Pickering emulsions to enhance the multiple stability of Pickering emulsions.Methods TFs at different mass concentrations (0~20 mg/mL) were used to prepare complexes with BSA, which were then employed to prepare Pickering emulsions with rapeseed oil. The microstructure, particle size, Zeta potential, and rheological properties of the emulsions were characterized. The effects of TFs mass concentration on the stability of the emulsions under centrifugation, storage, and sodium ion stress were further analyzed.Results TFs formed stable complexes with BSA, and the resulting Pickering emulsions exhibited spherical droplets. As the TFs mass concentration increased, the particle size of the emulsions first decreased and then increased. At a TFs mass concentration of 10 mg/mL, the emulsion showed the smallest particle size (D4,3=34.4 μm) and the highest absolute Zeta potential (34.96 mV), and formed the strongest three-dimensional gel network. Stability analysis revealed that the emulsion at a TFs mass concentration of 10 mg/mL exhibited good water-holding capacity (59.44%), the highest sodium ion stability, and good low-temperature storage stability (4 ℃, 20 d).Conclusion At a TFs mass concentration of 10 mg/mL, the complexes formed through interactions between TFs and BSA can effectively improve the multiple stability of Pickering emulsions.