New Trends in Clay-Based Nanohybrid Applications: Essential Oil Encapsulation Strategies to Improve Their Biological Activity

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are used in medicinal, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, and food industries thanks to their key properties and multiple benefits. Several techniques and embedding materials are used to nanoencapsulate EOs, in order to keep them from environmental conditions and boost their bioefficiency by controlled release. In recent years, the interest for clay nanoparticles as nanoencapsulation materials for EOs is increasing owing to their abundance in nature, low cost, inertness, and special structure. Thus, this chapter focuses on highlighting data and contributions dealing with EOs incorporation into nanoclay particles, their current applications and nanohybrid formation benefits on the stability, bioavailability, and sustained release of EOs. An overview about nanoclays used for EOs nanoencapsulation is highlighted in the beginning of this chapter followed by a brief description of EOs’ chemical composition and properties.

Romanian Wild-Growing Armoracia rusticana L.—Untargeted Low-Molecular Metabolomic Approach to a Potential Antitumoral Phyto-Carrier System Based on Kaolinite

“…Moreover, several detectable changes occurred in the horseradish spectra, particularly the hydroxyl vibrations (O-H stretching and O-H bending), indicating that this functional group is involved in the binding of kaolinite [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 104 ].…”

“…The surface area is 10–30 m 2 /g. Due to its high chemical stability and inertness in vivo, kaolinite has numerous pharmaceutical applications (anti-inflammatory, antiviral, detoxification, hemostatic, antitumoral, protection against gastro-intestinal problems and skin damage, pelotherapy, detoxification, and others) [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Production and In Situ Modification of Bacterial Cellulose Gels in Raisin Side-Stream Extracts Using Nanostructures Carrying Thyme Oil: Their Physicochemical/Textural Characterization and Use as Antimicrobial Cheese Packaging

“…The Zt-Th and AC-Th BC films gave promising results for use as natural, edible, AFP for cheese. Specifically, the BC/AC-Th film presented better antimicrobial activity as a coating on cheese, and a higher antioxidant capacity (possibly due to the better adsorption of thyme oil on AC and its better integration in the film [15]) (Tables 4 and 5). The effluent after BC production could be further exploited, as it contains residual sugars, edible nanostructures, thyme oil, and microbial biomass, towards creating added value in the framework of an eco-friendly circular economy.…”

“…Also, since there are several concerns about their safety when directly used in food, their incorporation into AFP films has gained increased attention. To overcome the disadvantage of rapid loss due to their high volatility, the incorporation of EOs into nanostructures as carriers and their subsequent incorporation into AFP polymeric matrices has been proposed [10,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

The Scenario of Clays and Clay Minerals Use in Cosmetics/Dermocosmetics

“…An example for cosmetic use is a bio-based antimicrobial mosquito repellent composed of Curcuma aromatica and Zanthoxylum limonella essential oils onto montmorillonite clays dispersed in a methyl ester of the castor oil. Also, the mixture of clay and essential oils can be used as a flavor and fragrance nanodelivery system [52].…”