Table 5.
PLGA-based-EOs NPs characteristics and potential applications.
| Characteristics of PLGA used | EOs loaded into PLGA-based NPs | NPs size (nm) | NPs polydispersity index | NPs zeta potential (mV) | Methods used | Functionality | Type of study | Medical or veterinary applications | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 50: 50. PLGA with a molecular weight between 5000–15000 Da |
Black caraway (Nigella sativa) |
148 | 0.2 | −24.8 | Solid-in-oil-in-water solvent evaporation | In the 1st 10 h, release of 25% with a burst effect, followed by a sustained release up to 54% for gastric juice and 75% for intestinal juice at 7 days. Better release rate in acidic pH. Physical properties (size, ZP,) of the NPs slightly modified due to heat treatments(60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C) | In vitro | Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram+) and Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli (Gram-) | (Nallamuthu et al., 2013) |
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 65: 35 | Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata) Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) |
200 | >0.1 | Not reported | Emulsion evaporation | Release with an initial burst effect, followed by a slower and sustained rate. Entrapment efficiency between 92–98%. Release profile controlled by the 2-term exponential kinetic model | In vitro | Antimicrobial activity against Listeria spp. (Gram+) and Salmonella spp. (Gram-) | (Gomes et al., 2011) |
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 50: 50. PLGA with a molecular weight between 38000–54000 Da |
Anise (Pimpinella anisum) Star anise (Illicium verum) Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) Caraway (Carum carvi) Dill (Anethum graveolens) |
126 and 158 | 0.08–0.2 | Not reported | Emulsification solvent evaporation and nanoprecipitation | Release with an initial burst effect during the first 6 h. Controlled release during more than 4 days | In vitro | Antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram+) and Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus coli (Gram-) | (Esfandyari- Manesh et al., 2013) |
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 65: 35 and 50:50 | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) | 145–167 | 0.18–0.26 | Not reported | Emulsion evaporation | Release with an initial burst effect during the 1st h but reaching a steady plateau quickly | In vitro | Antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes (Gram+) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Gram-) | (Hill et al., 2013) |
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 85: 15. PLGA with a molecular weight between 50000–75000 Da |
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) | 277 | 0.18 | −16 | Emulsification/solvent diffusion with Box-Behnken design |
Release with an initial burst effect (25% release after 3 h), followed by a sustained release until 84% release after 8 days. Release profile controlled by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model | In vitro | Promising potential for pharmaceutical uses, in controlling the release and in reducing the toxicity of the EO | (Almeida et al., 2019) |
| PLGA with a copolymer ratio of DL-lactide to glycolide of 50: 50 | Phenolic monoterpene: Carvacrol. It is a component of several EOs extracted from Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) or Oregano (Origanum vulgare) | 210 | 0.26 | −18.99 | Solvent displacement | Release with an initial burst effect (60% release after 3 h), followed by a slower rate until 95% release after 24 h | In vitro | Alter the properties of preformed staphylococcal biofilms (Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984) | (Iannitelli et al., 2011) |