Abstract
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are produced by sulfonic acid hydrolysis and used for the formation of Pickering emulsion (PE) with thyme white essential oil (EO). Highly volatile and hydrophobic thyme white is encapsulated in PE by the amphiphilicity of CNCs. Encapsulation of EO in a CNC shell is determined by confocal microscopy with distinct fluorescent labelling. The amount of CNC affects the size distribution of PE, and the emulsion stability is confirmed by rheological property. The antimicrobial activity of the emulsion is evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by minimal inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. The larvicidal activity is also investigated against Aedes albopictus by dispersing the emulsion in water.
Highlights
Plant essential oils (EOs) are natural substances that have been actively studied in the fields of pharmaceuticals, packaging and cosmetics for reducing microbial contamination [1,2,3,4]
Thymol and p-cymene were identified as two main components of thyme white essential oil in prior study [43]
There were a few differences in chemical composition of thyme white essential oil between our and prior studies, the major components were the same
Summary
Plant essential oils (EOs) are natural substances that have been actively studied in the fields of pharmaceuticals, packaging and cosmetics for reducing microbial contamination [1,2,3,4]. Thyme essential oil is a well-known substance showing antimicrobial activity against gram (−) and gram (+) bacteria compared with other plant EOs [7,8]. It presents larvicidal activity against insects and could be a potential matter for mosquito-controlling agent. The low surface energy of EO causes phase separation with aqueous solutions, and the high volatility of EO reduces the sustainability and stability of biological activity. For this reason, volatile EOs need to be encapsulated in the form of an emulsion that is dispersible in water
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