Fabrication, assessment, and potential anti-bacterial activity of sandalwood oil nanoemulsion and its hand rub sanitizer

Abstract

In the last decade, extensive research has been performed on developing hand sanitizers that can be used to eradicate the diseases that are caused due to poor hand hygiene. Essential oils possess antibacterial and antifungal properties and thus have great potential to replace the available antibacterial agents. In the present study, sandalwood oil-based nanoemulsion (NE) and sanitizer have been formulated and well characterized for their properties. Antibacterial activity was assessed using growth inhibition studies, agar cup, viability assay, etc. The sandalwood oil NE synthesized had oil to surfactant ratio of 1:0.5 (2.5% sandalwood oil and 0.5% Tween 80) and was observed to have a droplet diameter of 118.3 ± 0.92nm, the zeta potential of - 18.8 ± 2.01mV, and stability of 2months. The antibacterial activity of sandalwood NE and sanitizer was evaluated against microorganisms. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the zone of inhibition value of sanitizer, which was in the range of 19 to 25mm against all microorganisms. Morphological analysis showed distant changes in membrane shape and size and microorganisms' morphology. The synthesized NE was thermodynamically stable and efficient enough to be used in sanitizer, and the formulated sanitizer showed great antibacterial efficacy.