title: Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for the delivery of natural molecules with antimicrobial activity: production, characterisation and in vitro studies.
abstract: This study describes the preparation, characterisation and in vitro activity of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) encapsulating natural molecules with antimicrobial activity, such as plumbagin, hydroquinon, eugenol, alpha-asarone and alpha-tocopherol. NLCs were prepared by melt and ultrasonication method, characterised by Cryo-TEM for morphology and SdFFF for dimensional distribution and active encapsulation yields. In vitro tests were conducted on bacteria, fungi and human cell cultures. In vitro tests demonstrated that plumbagin is strongly toxic towards F. oxysporum especially when active molecules are loaded on NLC. Plumbagin was completely non toxic on cyanobacterial model strain up to a threshold over which cell viability was completely lost. NLC loaded with active molecules showed a lower toxicity as compared to their free form on human cultured cells. Although further studies need to be performed, these systems can be potentially proposed to control phytopathogenic organisms.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cortesi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.|b Department of Animal Science , NC State University, Plants for Human Health Institute, NC Research Campus , Kannapolis , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valacchi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Ximena Maria
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Muresan
authors.affiliation: c BIMF/Soft Matter Electronmicroscopy , University of Bayreuth , Bayreuth , Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drechsler
authors.affiliation: d Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contado
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grandini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forlani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology , University of Ferrara , Ferrara , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D002460:Cell Line; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Nanoparticles; formulation; nanostructured lipid carriers; nanotechnology