High internal phase water/oil and oil/water gel emulsions formed using a glucose-based low-molecular-weight gelator

A high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) comprising silicone oil and water was prepared under surfactant-free conditions using low loadings of a glucose-based low-molecular-weight gelator capable of gelating both dispersed and continuous phases. The addition of an appropriate amount of a surfactant induced the inversion of the dispersed and continuous HIPE phases.