Abstract
Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia essential oil (EO) were prepared by a solvent evaporation method, in order to obtain a novel carrier for administration on the skin. The specific EO exhibits antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties thus stimulating considerable interest as a novel agent for the treatment of minor skin inflammations. The incorporation into nanoparticles could overcome the administration limitations that inserts the nature of the EO. Nanoparticles were prepared, utilizing poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as shell material, due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability, while the influence of surfactant type on NPs properties was examined. Two surfactants were selected, namely poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lecithin (LEC) and NPs’ physicochemical characteristics i.e. size, polydispersity index (PdI) and ζ-potential were determined, not indicating significant differences (p > 0.05) between PLA/PVA-NPs (239.9 nm, 0.081, -29.1 mV) and PLA/LEC-NPs (286.1 nm, 0.167, −34.5 mV). However, encapsulation efficiency (%EE) measured by GC-MS, was clearly higher for PLA/PVA-NPs than PLA/LEC-NPs (37.45% vs. 9.15%, respectively). Moreover PLA/PVA-NPs remained stable over a period of 60 days. The in vitro release study indicated gradual release of the EO from PLA/PVA-NPs and more immediate from PLA/LEC-NPs. The above findings, in addition to the SEM images of the particles propose a potential structure of nanocapsules for PLA/PVA-NPs, where shell material is mainly consisted of PLA, enclosing the EO in the core. However, this does not seem to be the case for PLA/LEC-NPs, as the results indicated low EO content, rapid release and a considerable percentage of humidity detected by SEM. Furthermore, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the EO was determined against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, while NPs, however did not exhibit considerable activity in the concentration range applied. In conclusion, the surfactant selection may modify the release of EO incorporated in NPs for topical application allowing its action without interfering to the physiological skin microbiota.
Highlights
Dating back to the first century AD, ancient Greek physicians (Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galenos) reported the therapeutic properties of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia, an evergreen shrub growing on the Greek island of Chios
These results, combined with microscopic imaging of NPs, could propose that poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-NPs demonstrate structure of nanocapsules, where PLA is the main component of the shell material while essential oil (EO) is enclosed in the core
These findings suggest the possibility that LEC forms a lipid bilayer which encloses amount of aquatic solution in the core area, while EO is entrapped in the oily shell of the spherical particles
Summary
Dating back to the first century AD, ancient Greek physicians (Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galenos) reported the therapeutic properties of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia (mastic tree of Chios), an evergreen shrub growing on the Greek island of Chios. The resin of the plant (mastic gum), is well known for its medicinal uses, especially for the treatment of stomach disorders, preservation of oral hygiene and wound healing action [1,2,3]. Previous studies have presented the constituents of mastic gum essential oil, [5,6] and demonstrated its antimicrobial [6,7,8] and anti-inflammatory properties [9], stimulating considerable interest on it as a novel wound healing agent. Investigation of applying nanotechnology for enhancing wound healing process has already been reported [10], proposing effective acceleration of the process through a variety of mechanisms, including the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action [11,12]. A variety of EOs has already been encapsulated into NPs [13,14,15,16], there is no report of the inclusion into nanocarriers of EO extracted from the resin of P. lentiscus var. chia
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