Development of Alginate Hydrogels Incorporating Essential Oils Loaded in Chitosan Nanoparticles for Biomedical...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Food Science

Background:

• Chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) offer versatile applications in biomedical and food industries.
• Essential oils like lavender (LEO) and Mentha (MEO) possess valuable biological properties.
• Developing stable and functional hybrid hydrogel systems is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a hybrid alginate hydrogel-chitosan nanoparticle system encapsulating lavender and Mentha essential oils.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties, stability, lipid absorption, and antimicrobial efficacy of the developed hydrogel system.

Main Methods:

• Chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) were prepared using a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) and loaded with LEO and MEO.
• Nanoparticle size was determined using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA).
• CS-NPs were incorporated into alginate hydrogels crosslinked with CaCl2, followed by stability, lipid absorption, and antimicrobial assays.

Main Results:

• CS-NPs with hydrodynamic diameters of 130.7 nm (CS-MEO) and 143.4 nm (CS-LEO) were successfully synthesized.
• The hybrid hydrogels exhibited high water retention (>80%) and stability in acidic conditions (pH 1.2).
• The hydrogels demonstrated significant dietary lipid absorption and potent antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens, comparable to sodium benzoate.

Conclusions:

• The developed hybrid alginate hydrogel-chitosan nanoparticle system is a promising platform for biomedical and food preservation applications.
• The system effectively encapsulates essential oils, offering enhanced stability and functional properties.
• This innovative hydrogel presents a viable alternative to conventional food preservatives due to its comparable antimicrobial efficacy.