Niosome nanoparticles loaded with essential oils for wound dressing applications

Introduction: In nanomedicine the improvement of nanoparticulated systems used in the treatment of different pathologies through local, targeted or controlled release has played a crucial role. Niosomes are one of these... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: In nanomedicine the improvement of nanoparticulated systems used in the treatment of different pathologies through local, targeted or controlled release has played a crucial role. Niosomes are one of these nanoparticulated systems, vesicles made by self-assembly of non-ionic surfactants, cholesterol and stabilizers such as dicetyl phosphate (DCP). On the other hand, microorganism resistance is becoming one of the main challenges in medicine research. That is why nowadays plants that were believed to have medicinal properties are studied by its bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and regenerative ability in wound healing, among others. Combination of those materials could be used in topical wound care in order to obtain more targeted and efficient approaches.
Methods: The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of essential oils (EO) reported as bactericidal in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated before being encapsulated in niosomes. EO tested were Carvacrol, Eugenol, Cinnamaldehyde, Tymol, Squalene, Tyrosol and Rosmarinic acid. Inhibitory and bactericidal effects were analyzed by the dilution method using agar broth cultures by contacting different concentrations of EO with bacteria for 24 hours.
Results: The antibacterial effects of EO tested are shown in Table I. It can be seen that Carvacrol, Cinnamaldehyde and Tymol showed higher antibacterial efficiency in both E. coli and S. aureus, being MIC and MBC between 0.1 and 0.5 mg/mL. On the other hand, Eugenol displayed higher bactericidal effects in E. coli than in S. aureus. In this project, we have also carried out the niosome synthesis through a methodology based in microfluidics, using an interdigitated micromixer. Vesicle sizes are 238 ± 41 nm and their Z potential is -33 ± 3mV.
Discussion: In spite of all the efforts that have been made towards the development of artificial wound dressings, none of the currently available options combine all the requirements necessary for quick and optimal cutaneous regeneration. Further studies will be carried out to test the regenerative and anti-inflammatory ability of these EO and to encapsulate them into niosomes, so that the combination may make optimum smart bioactive dressings with a controlled release of the natural substrates.