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Published on: February 15, 2011
Microencapsulation of Thymol in Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA): Physical and Antibacterial Properties
Zhu Zhu1, Tiantian Min2, Xueji Zhang3
1School of Chemistry and Bioengineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China. zhuzhu@ustb.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Thymol has been shown to be a safe and effective broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that can be used as a food preservative. However, its volatile characteristics and strong odor limit its use in food products. The microencapsulation of this essential oil in biopolymers could overcome these disadvantages. In this work, thymol-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microparticles were successfully prepared and the optimal encapsulation efficiency was obtained at 20% (w/w) thymol. Microparticles containing thymol presented a spherical shape and smooth surface. Microencapsulation significantly improved the thermal and storage stability of thymol. In vitro release profiles demonstrated an initial fast release followed by a slow and sustained release. Thymol-loaded microparticles had strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and the effectiveness of their antibacterial properties was confirmed in a milk test. Therefore, the thymol-loaded microparticles show great potential for use as an antimicrobial and as preservation additives in food.
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