This study aimed to optimize the stability and loading performance of menthol emulsions.Menthol-loaded chitosan-cinnamaldehyde interfacial bond emulsions were prepared using high-speed dispersion followed by high-pressure microfluidization, with chitosan and cinnamaldehyde serving as interfacial stabilizers.The effects of different chitosan-to-cinnamaldehyde mass ratios (1∶0, 1∶0.25, 1∶0.50, 1∶0.75, 1∶1.00, and 1∶1.25) on the emulsion system were systematically investigated.Key structural characteristics, including interfacial properties, droplet size distribution, zeta potential, microstructure, rheological behavior, and centrifugal stability, were analyzed to explore their influence on encapsulation efficiency and storage stability.The results indicated that the incorporation of cinnamaldehyde significantly reduced the oil-water interfacial tension, enhancing interfacial adsorption.When the mass ratio of chitosan to cinnamaldehyde is 1∶0.75, the emulsion exhibited optimal overall performance, characterized by the smallest droplet size (0.36 μm) and the highest encapsulation efficiency (78.4%), along with excellent centrifugal and storage stability.Confocal laser scanning microscopy images revealed uniform droplet distribution with no aggregation.Studies suggested that an appropriate amount of cinnamaldehyde could form a dense, stable composite interfacial film through covalent bonding with chitosan, while excessive cinnamaldehyde caused over-crosslinking of the chitosan molecules, thereby compromising the emulsion’s stability.This work provides an effective strategy and theoretical foundation for the development of high-performance menthol delivery systems.
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