The anti MRSA biofilm activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil in nanovesicles

Abstract

Background: Thymus vulgaris essential oil (T) could be an alternative to classical antibiotics against bacterial biofilms, which show increased tolerance to antibiotics and host defence systems and contribute to the persistence of chronic bacterial infections. Hypothesis: A nanovesicular formulation of T may chemically protect the structure and relative composition of its multiple components, potentially improving its antibacterial and antibiofilm activity.

Anti-biofilm and Virulence Factor-Reducing Activities of Essential Oils and Oil Components as a Possible Option for Bacterial Infection Control

“…Thyme oil (MIC 90 for all SA strains: 2 mg/mL) encapsulated in nano-archaesomes exhibited a maximal inhibition of SA/MRSA biofilm formation (for SA, about 50-70 % over the control) at sub-MICs of 0.5-1.0 mg/mL, while thyme oil containing nano-liposomes did not inhibit biofilm formation compared to the untreated control. In addition, thyme oil containing nanoarchaeosomes also significantly decreased the biofilm mass of already established SA/MRSA biofilms (for SA, about 80 %) at a concentration of 4 mg/mL thyme oil [108].…”

“…In a recent experimental study [108], two different nano-vesicles, nano-liposomes and nano-archaeosomes, were loaded with thyme oil (with 30 % thymol and 23 % p-cymene) and tested for their anti-biofilm activity in SA ATCC 25923 and four clinical MRSA strains. Nano-liposomes were designed of soybean phosphatidylcholine and polysorbate 80, while the nano-archaeosomes were made of soybean phosphatidylcholine, polysorbate 80, and total polar archaeolipids derived from the archaebacteria Halorubrum tebenquichense.…”

New Tricks for Old Guys: Recent Developments in the Chemistry, Biochemistry, Applications and Exploitation of Selected Species from the Lamiaceae Family

“…The delivery of EOs could be optimized also by their encapsulation on nanostructured lipid carriers prepared by phase inversion temperature and high pressure homogenization methods, on liposomes prepared using the film hydration method or on nanocochleates based on phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and calcium ions with interesting increase of their effectiveness and stability. Nanoarchaeosomes made of soybean phosphatidylcholine, polysorbate 80 and total polar archaeolipids extracted from archaebacterial Halorubrum tebenquichense and loaded with thyme EO were successfully tested for their anti MRSA biofilm activity opening new ways for the exploitation of these kind of nanovesicles loaded with EOs …”

“…Nanoarchaeosomes made of soybean phosphatidylcholine, polysorbate 80 and total polar archaeolipids extracted from archaebacterial Halorubrum tebenquichense and loaded with thyme EO were successfully tested for their anti MRSA biofilm activity opening new ways for the exploitation of these kind of nanovesicles loaded with EOs. [406] Biodegradable packaging materials has been introduced as a promising solution for the problem of vast amounts of synthetic materials, which cause serious environmental problems. The incorporation of EOs within these materials is a new frontier on the field active packaging.…”

Essential Oils and Microbial Communication

“…The capability of blocking the quorum sensing mechanisms and biofilm formation by EOs can be combined with conventional drugs for a better treatment efficacy, as well as to design new more effective drugs, capable of acting also against those particularly resistant bacteria and fungi. The possibility to use nanotechnology, through the production of nano-vesicles containing EO, can result useful in a variety of applications including medical and pharmaceutical recipients and in home products for treating or preventing microbial colonization, as well as avoiding biofilm development [111,112], also in food technology [113,114]. Nano-coating with different inorganic and organic materials also supported by EOs proves to be particularly useful in the treatment of chronic wounds, such as venous or arterial ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores, and non-healing surgical wounds, all scenarios associated with chronic mono-or polymicrobial biofilm infections, formed by different bacteria, such as S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, followed by various species of Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Morganella morganii, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens, Providencia spp., Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and rarely Corynebacterium spp.…”