Chitosan-ε-polylysine‑sodium tripolyphosphate based Pickering emulsions for co-encapsulation of cinnamaldehyde and linalool: An effective sustained-release system against toxigenic fungi.

Chitosan-ε-polylysine‑sodium tripolyphosphate (CS-εPL-STPP) ternary solid particles were fabricated to stabilize Pickering emulsions for co-encapsulating cinnamaldehyde (CN) and linalool (LN). The incorporation of ε-PL into the CS-STPP system enhanced structural stability via hydrogen bonding and van der Waals-mediated crosslinking, as confirmed by FT-IR, XPS, and molecular docking, concurrently improving thermal stability. The optimized CN-LN-PE (oil fraction 4 %, CN: LN = 4:2) exhibited not only high encapsulation efficiency (86.67 ± 0.61 %) and temperature-responsive release properties but also favorable interfacial adsorption behaviors, collectively contributing to its superior antifungal activity. CN-LN-PE effectively inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus, suppressed aflatoxin B1 production by 78.63 %, and exerted antifungal action by disrupting membrane integrity and inducing oxidative stress. Beyond addressing the solubility limitations, the CN-LN co-delivery Pickering emulsion offered a sustainable functional strategy for effective mycotoxin mitigation during post-harvest storage of peanuts, showcasing great potential for broader application in preserving various agricultural products and processed foods.