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Antifungal Carvacrol Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles
Alberto Vitali1, Annarita Stringaro2, Marisa Colone2
1Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta", Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, L. go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 21, 2022
Summary
Novel chitosan nanoparticles loaded with carvacrol show potent antifungal activity against Candida species. These nanoparticles effectively target planktonic cells and demonstrate species-dependent antibiofilm efficacy, offering a promising new strategy for fungal infection treatment.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rising incidence of life-threatening fungal infections, particularly from Candida species.
- Growing interest in essential oil components, like carvacrol, for antifungal properties.
- Need for effective nanodelivery systems to enhance the delivery of hydrophobic antifungal compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize chitosan nanoparticles loaded with carvacrol.
- To evaluate the in vitro antifungal and antibiofilm activity of the carvacrol-loaded nanoparticles against various Candida species.
Main Methods:
- Chitosan nanoparticles prepared via ionic gelation and loaded with carvacrol.
- Structural and functional characterization using UV, FTIR, DLS, and SEM.
- Antifungal and antibiofilm assays against planktonic and biofilm forms of Candida spp.
Main Results:
- Optimized carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were successfully prepared and characterized.
- Nanoparticles demonstrated significant activity against planktonic Candida cells.
- Antibiofilm activity varied by species, with Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei showing higher susceptibility.
Conclusions:
- Carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles represent a promising antifungal formulation.
- The nanodelivery system enhances carvacrol's efficacy against planktonic Candida.
- Further investigation into species-specific antibiofilm mechanisms is warranted.
