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Graphical abstract Highlights • The method creating cellulose acetate - essential oils nanocapsules was optimized. • No surfactant was needed for the formation of nanocapsules. • The nanocapsules have antimicrobial activity against 3 bacteria and a yeast strain. • The nanocapsules prevent microbial colonization and biofilm development. Abstract This study aimed to obtain bioactive nanosystems by combining cellulose acetate with three selected essential oils (EOs) to create spherical nanocapsules (NCs) using the solvent/anti-solvent technique. The biological activity of the obtained NCs was promoted by the use of some antimicrobial EOs: Peppermint, Cinnamon and lemongrass which were grafted on the cellulose acetate molecules. Due to their chemistry, such as long hydrocarbon tails and heads with functional groups these EOs were playing also the role of surfactant-like substance facilitating the formation of NCs. A dispersion of NCs was obtained in water and various spectroscopy techniques used to examine their size, morphology and chemistry. Dynamic light scattering calculate the size of the NCs whereas scanning electron microscopy showed their morphology. Fluorescent microscopy and Raman spectroscopy proved the attachment of the EOs in the cellulose acetate molecules. The antimicrobial activity of the obtained nanomaterials was tested against four microbial strains (bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli , and a yeast strain of Candida albicans). The obtained results demonstrated that such NCs can be used in a variety of applications including medical, pharmaceutical recipients and in household products for treating or preventing microbial colonization and biofilm development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of electrospinning was used to create nanofibers made of cellulose acetate (CA) and essential oils (EOs). CA polymer at 15% w/v was dissolved in acetone and then 1% or 5% v/v of EOs was added to the polymer solution. The utilized essential oils were rosemary and oregano oils. Then, the CA/EOs in acetone solution were electrospun, creating micro/nanofibers, approximately 700-1500 nm in diameter. Raman spectroscopy was used to detect the attachment of the EOs in the CA electrospun fibers (ESFs). Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology, topography and dimensions of the ESFs. The formed CA/EOs ESFs are found to have good antimicrobial properties against three common microbial species, frequently found in difficult to treat infections: Bacteria species Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and the yeast Candida albicans. ESFs with 5% v/v oregano oil with respect to the initial solution, showed the best antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects due to the potency of this EO against bacteria and fungi, especially for Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. This work describes an effective and simple method to prepare CA/EOs ESFs and opens up many new applications of micro/nanofibers such as improved antimicrobial wound dressings, anti-biofilm surfaces, sensors and packaging alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocapsules and nanoparticles play an essential role in the delivery of pharmaceutical agents in modern era, since they can be delivered in specific tissues and cells. Natural polymers, such as cellulose acetate, are becoming very important due to their availability, biocompatibility, absence of toxicity and biodegradability. In parallel, essential oils are having continuous growth in biomedical applications due to the inherent active compounds that they contain. A characteristic example is lemongrass oil that has exceptional antimicrobial properties. In this work, nanocapsules of cellulose acetate with lemongrass oil were developed with the solvent/anti-solvent method with resulting diameter tailored between 95 and 185 nm. Various physico-chemical and surface analysis techniques were employed to investigate the formation of the nanocapsules. These all-natural nanocapsules found to well bioadhere to mucous membranes and to have very good antimicrobial properties at little concentrations against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose acetate (CA) nanoparticles were combined with two antimicrobial agents, namely lemongrass (LG) essential oil and Cu-ferrite nanoparticles. The preparation method of CA nanocapsules (NCs), with the two antimicrobial agents, was based on the nanoprecipitation method using the solvent/anti-solvent technique. Several physical and chemical analyses were performed to characterize the resulting NCs and to study their formation mechanism. The size of the combined antimicrobial NCs was found to be ca. 220 nm. The presence of Cu-ferrites enhanced the attachment of LG essential oil into the CA matrix. The magnetic properties of the combined construct were weak, due to the shielding of Cu-ferrites from the polymeric matrix, making them available for drug delivery applications where spontaneous magnetization effects should be avoided. The antimicrobial properties of the NCs were significantly enhanced with respect to CA/LG only. This work opens novel routes for the development of organic/inorganic nanoparticles with exceptional antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]