Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
08:20

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries

Published on: March 31, 2021

6.5K

Microencapsulation of carvacrol as an efficient tool to fight Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis

Samah Mechmechani1,2, Adem Gharsallaoui3, Alexandre Fadel4

  • 1University Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, UMR 8207-UMET-Unité Matériaux et Transformations, Lille, France.

Plos One
|July 1, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Spray-drying microencapsulated carvacrol (E-CARV) significantly boosted its effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. This natural antimicrobial agent showed enhanced activity and reduced required concentrations for surface disinfection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Material Science
  • Food Science

Background:

  • Biofilms cause persistent infections and foodborne illnesses, posing significant challenges due to high antimicrobial resistance.
  • Developing effective strategies to combat biofilm-related issues is crucial for public health and the food industry.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To enhance the antibiofilm activity of carvacrol, a natural antimicrobial, using spray-drying encapsulation.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of encapsulated carvacrol (E-CARV) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis biofilms.

Main Methods:

  • Spray-drying was employed to create microcapsules containing carvacrol.
  • Physicochemical properties and microscopic morphology of microcapsules and bacterial cells were characterized.
  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and antibiofilm efficacy of free (F-CARV) and encapsulated carvacrol were determined.

Main Results:

  • Encapsulated carvacrol (E-CARV) demonstrated a 4-fold lower MIC against P. aeruginosa compared to free carvacrol (F-CARV).
  • E-CARV effectively eradicated P. aeruginosa biofilms and significantly reduced E. faecalis biofilms within 15 minutes.
  • Both F-CARV and E-CARV were found to destabilize bacterial cell membranes, leading to cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Spray-drying is an effective method to enhance the antibiofilm activity of carvacrol.
  • Encapsulated carvacrol offers a promising approach to combat bacterial biofilms in medical and food applications, potentially reducing required concentrations for surface disinfection.

More Related Videos

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices10:57

Generation of Greater Bacterial Biofilm Biomass using PCR-Plate Deep Well Microplate Devices

Published on: April 22, 2022

7.9K
Author Spotlight: An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils07:47

Author Spotlight: An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils

Published on: April 7, 2023

8.2K

Related Concept Videos

Biofilms01:29

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial consortia can include single or multiple species, providing enhanced survival benefits by forming organized, multilayered structures.The formation of biofilms occurs through four key stages: attachment, colonization, development, and dispersal.During attachment, free-swimming planktonic cells adhere to a surface, often facilitated by...
263
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
198
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
88
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
154
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
1.4K
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...
197