Co-delivery of imidazolium Zn(II)salen and Origanum Syriacum essential oil by shrimp chitosan nanoparticles for antimicrobial applications

This study reports preparation and physicochemical characterization of natural antimicrobials (Origanum Syriacum essential oil (OSEO), shrimp chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs)) and new imidazolium ionic liquid-supported Zn(II)Salen. These antimicrobials were separately or co-encapsulated by CSNPs to fabricate novel antimicrobial nanoplatforms “NPFs” (OSEO-loaded CSNPs (NPF-1), Zn(II)Salen-loaded CSNPs (NPF-2), and Zn(II)Salen@OSEO-loaded CSNPs (NPF-3)). The finding of loading, encapsulation, and antimicrobial release studies confirm the suitability of CSNPs for nanoencapsulation of Zn(II)Salen and OSEO. All NPFs can significantly suppress the growth of microbial species with performances dependent upon the microbial strain and nanoplatform concentration. The susceptibility of microbes toward new antimicrobials was as follows; Gram-positive bacteria > Gram-negative bacteria > fungi. The amazing physicochemical features of new nanoplatforms and their bioactive ingredients (Zn(II)Salen, OSEO, and CSNPs) signify the importance of our designs for developing a new generation of nanopharmaceuticals supported both natural products and biogenic ionic metal cofactors, targeting the multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens.