Phytochemical- and Cyclodextrin-Based Pickering Emulsions: Natural Potentiators of Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antibiofilm Activity

Langmuir. 2020 Apr 28;36(16):4317-4323. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00314. Epub 2020 Apr 17.

Abstract

We present self-assembled Pickering emulsions containing biocidal phytochemical oils (carvacrol and terpinen-4-ol) and β-cyclodextrin able to potentiate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of miconazoctylium bromide. The carvacrol-containing emulsion is 2-fold more sensitive against C. albicans and S. aureus and highly active against E. coli, compared to the commercial cream containing miconazole nitrate. Moreover, this emulsion shows a synergistic effect against fungi, additive responses against bacteria, and remarkable staphylococcal biofilm eradication. These results are associated with membrane permeabilization, enzymes inhibition, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in microorganisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Cyclodextrins / chemistry*
  • Cymenes / pharmacology
  • Emulsions / chemistry*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Terpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Cyclodextrins
  • Cymenes
  • Emulsions
  • Terpenes
  • terpinenol-4
  • carvacrol