What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a nanoemulgel containing Benzocaine and Nigella Sativa seed oil against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

June 13, 2026Open Access

Formulation, Optimization, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Benzocaine and Nigella Sativa Seed Oil Loaded Topical Nanoemulgel for Enhanced Wound Healing and Local Anesthesia

Key Points

The research aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a nanoemulgel containing Benzocaine and Nigella Sativa seed oil against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
Created a nanoemulgel using low-speed homogenization for optimal formulation.
Conducted antimicrobial testing against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Measured parameters including particle size (10.6 nm) and zeta potential (-10.2 mV) to confirm formulation efficacy.
Benzocaine and Nigella Sativa exhibited minimal antibacterial activity individually against both bacterial types.
The nanoemulgel demonstrated a significant synergistic antimicrobial effect compared to the individual components.
Viscosity, pH, and spreadability were evaluated to ensure safety and efficacy of the formulation.

Abstract

Background: Many synthetic and herbal APIs have been patented as nanosized emulsified gels for a range of medicinal purposes in the last few years. Unfortunately, due to their restricted therapeutic utility, almost half of these medications are classified as either class II or class IV in the biopharmaceutical categorization system (BCS) or are neither of them still in development. Benzocaine which is a BCS Class II drug is utilized in this study. Nigella sativa a well-known plant having various medicinal properties is also utilized. Aim: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Benzocaine and Nigella Sativa seed oil against Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus Aureus, as well as to observe the zone of inhibition and create a nanoemulgel to produce the combined impact of synergy. Methods: A formulation comprising nanosized emulsion globules created using low-speed homogenization procedures is known as nano emulsion-based gel, or nanoemulgel, and is further transformed into nanoemulgel by including an appropriate gelling agent. It has been proven to be a viable option for topical medication deliverywith globular size ranging between 5 to 500 nm. FTIR was used to study any possible incompatibilities with the drug and other excipients used in the nanoemulgel formulation. Other parameters i.e. viscosity, pH, spreadability, etc are also evaluated to confirm the safety and efficacy of the formulation. Result: The particle size of the optimized nanoemulsion was found to be 10.6 nm and the zeta potential was around -10.2 mV. An antimicrobial evaluation was conducted, and the competitive synergistic effect of nanoemulgel was observed. Conclusion: It was determined that benzocaine and Nigella Sativa seed extract separately exhibited just a negligible amount of antibacterial action against both Gramm Positive and Gramm Negative bacteria. The nanoemulgel demonstrated a competent combined effect after being blended.

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