Novel biocompatible essential oil-based lipid nanocapsules with antifungal properties

Abstract

Lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) are recently developed nano-carriers widely used for drug delivery with different routes of administration. They are composed of an oily core containing medium chain triglyceride surrounded by a surfactant shell. The aim of this work was to study the possibilities for using essential oils having antifungal activity (Eucalyptus oil and orange oil) for LNCs preparation instead of using medium chain triglyceride (Miglyol®812). A ternary phase diagram was constructed in order to determine the feasibility zones for the LNCs preparation. The average particle size for orange oil LNCs ranged between 26 and 145 nm with narrow size distribution and negative zeta potential. For Eucalyptus oil formulae, average particle size ranged from (60–402 nm) with PDI in the range of (0.2–0.5) and zeta potential (−12 to −34 mV). Formulae O36 (containing orange oil 40%w/v) and E35 (containing eucalyptus oil 35%w/v) were selected for further investigations including Transmission electron microscopy imaging, rheological evaluation, stability studies and microbiological activity evaluation. The results of the in vitro antimycotic activity showed that higher antifungal activity was observed with formula E35 having inhibition zone of 3.56 ± 0.12 cm, compared to formula O36 which exhibited a zone of inhibition of 2.6 ± 0.1 cm indicating preserved anti-fungal activities of the loaded oils.