Antimicrobial effects of a microemulsion and a nanoemulsion on enteric and other pathogens and biofilms

Int J Food Microbiol. 2007 Aug 15;118(1):15-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.05.008. Epub 2007 Jun 12.

Abstract

Some microemulsions and nanoemulsions may have antimicrobial properties and be effective anti-biofilm agents. We examined the abilities of two fine emulsions, designated BCTP and TEOP, to inactivate suspensions of vegetative cells of Salmonella spp. Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (VT-), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. BCTP is an O/W nanoemulsion of soybean oil and tri-n-butyl phosphate emulsified with Triton X-100, while TEOP is an O/W microemulsion of ethyl oleate with Tween 80 as emulsifier and n-pentanol as a co-emulsifier. BCTP was effective in reducing the cell numbers of L. monocytogenes, while TEOP was effective against all five organisms investigated. The abilities of these emulsions to reduce preformed biofilms of the five bacteria were also investigated. With the exception of the biofilm formed by L. monocytogenes, which surprisingly was not significantly affected by BCTP, all biofilms were inhibited by both BCTP and TEOP.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / drug effects*
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Emulsions / pharmacology*
  • Equipment Contamination / prevention & control
  • Escherichia coli O157 / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli O157 / physiology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Food Preservation / methods
  • Food-Processing Industry / standards*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / drug effects
  • Listeria monocytogenes / physiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / physiology
  • Salmonella / drug effects
  • Salmonella / physiology
  • Sanitation / methods
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Emulsions