Abstract
Polylactic acid was combined with lemongrass essential oil (EO) to produce functional nanocapsules (NCs). The obtained polylactic acid nanoparticles showed antimicrobial activity both with and without the presence of lemongrass oil; however, the presence of EO improved the activity of the NCs. The presence of lemongrass assisted the formation of well-separated NCs and also provided enhanced antimicrobial properties, since lemongrass is known for its antimicrobial character. Fluorescence microscopy was used to optically observe the nanoparticles and NCs and revealed the attachment of lemongrass oil with the polylactic acid NCs. Dynamic light scattering was used to determine their size. UV absorption was used to determine the exact amount of lemongrass oil found in the polylactic acid—lemongrass oil NCs, which was important for understanding the minimum inhibitory concentration for the antimicrobial experiments. A series of clinically important microbial species were used in the study and the obtained NCs proved to have very good antimicrobial properties against all tested strains. Such NCs can be used for the design of ecological strategies, based on natural alternatives, which may be efficient against severe infections, including those that involve resistant pathogens and biofilms or those with difficult to reach localization.
Highlights
Treatment of severe diseases such as those including difficult to reach pathogens, intracellular bacteria and increased microbial resistance require the development of antimicrobial approaches on the nanometer scale [1,2,3,4] to target the infection
The NPs and NCs have high surface area to volume ratio [6] and can be more efficient in stopping microbial growth with only small amounts [7], can stabilize the pharmacological active compound by avoiding its unspecific spread within the body, ensure a targeted activity and a controlled release of the antimicrobial drug, and avoid the toxicity problems related with the use of high amounts of antibiotics that are usually necessary to solve severe infections, which is very important [8]
The polylactic acid (PLA) used in this work has a lifespan of about 9–12 months in contact with biological tissue, and, can be important for the treatment of chronic diseases, such as respiratory, ophthalmic or ear infections and those that involve resistant microbial infections or need a systemic treatment with antibiotics
Summary
Treatment of severe diseases such as those including difficult to reach pathogens, intracellular bacteria and increased microbial resistance require the development of antimicrobial approaches on the nanometer scale [1,2,3,4] to target the infection. The NPs and NCs have high surface area to volume ratio [6] and can be more efficient in stopping microbial growth with only small amounts [7], can stabilize the pharmacological active compound by avoiding its unspecific spread within the body, ensure a targeted activity and a controlled release of the antimicrobial drug, and avoid the toxicity problems related with the use of high amounts of antibiotics that are usually necessary to solve severe infections, which is very important [8]. The polylactic acid (PLA) used in this work has a lifespan of about 9–12 months in contact with biological tissue, and, can be important for the treatment of chronic diseases, such as respiratory, ophthalmic or ear infections and those that involve resistant microbial infections or need a systemic treatment with antibiotics. Picrorhizakurroa root extract was encapsulated into PLA NPs with the use of pluronic-F-68 surfactant using the nanoprecipitation method as food supplements with nutraceutical value [20]
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