Abstract 1176 Essential Oil-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles: Battling Antibiotic-Resistant Microorganisms

This study presents an innovative and scientifically accessible approach for formulating polymeric nanoparticles containing essential oils, readily available in Mexico, to bridge the gap between traditional and conventional medicine. The primary objective is to address the growing challenge posed by drug-resistant microorganisms. Specifically, we focus on harnessing the antimicrobial potential of Oregano and Rosemary oils, along with their key phytochemical constituents, Carvacrol and p-cymene, respectively. While these compounds are known for their antimicrobial efficacy, they often exhibit cytotoxic properties leading to allergic reactions. To mitigate these concerns, we have successfully encapsulated these active agents within poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) matrices. This encapsulation approach not only enhances the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus but also reduces their cytotoxicity by 50%, as evidenced by experiments conducted on fibroblast-like cell cultures. Furthermore, our findings reveal a novel anti-biofilm effect of these nanoparticles on mature S. aureus biofilms cultured for 24 and 48 hours, which deviates from conventional antimicrobial strategies primarily focused on preventing biofilm formation. The synthesized nanoparticles have an average size of 200 nanometers and encapsulate approximately 40% of the oils and phytochemicals, making them promising candidates for in vivo studies, an ongoing aspect of our research. Our work underscores the potential of nanotechnology-based approaches in effectively combating the urgent worldwide emergency of multi-resistant infections, while simultaneously mitigating the undesirable side effects associated with the encapsulated active ingredients. Israel Núnez acknowledges support from Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (DGAPA, UNAM) (MEXICO) for funding (PAPIIT-IT100222) and Romero-Montero A. would like to thank CONAHCYT for their scientific and financial support through the program "Becas Posdoctorales"