Egyptian propolis 14: Potential antibacterial activity of propolis-encapsulated alginate nanoparticles against different pathogenic bacteria strains

• Published in: Advances in natural sciences. Nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 45019 - 45026
• Main Authors: Hegazi, A G, El-Houssiny, A S, Fouad, E A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.12.2019
• Subjects: alginate; antimicrobial; nanoparticles; pathogenic bacteria; propolis
• ISSN: 2043-6262; 2043-6254; 2043-6262
• DOI: 10.1088/2043-6254/ab52f4

The present study evaluates the synergistic antimicrobial effect of the propolis-encapsulated alginate nanoparticles (propolis-ALg NPs) against different pathogenic bacteria. The prepared samples were characterised by transimissin electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential and dielectric spectroscopy. The morphological analysis using TEM revealed that, the propolis-ALg NPs are spherical, discrete and have a small particle size (13 nm) in the nanometer scale. FTIR studies showed a spectral change of the characteristic absorption bands of ALg NPs after being encapsulated with propolis. A high negative zeta potential value is obtained for propolis-ALg NPs which indicates a high suspension stability of the prepared formulation. The dielectric study showed a decrease in the dielectric constant ( ′), dielectric loss ( ″) and conductivity ( ) values after the incorporation of the propolis into ALg NPs. All these investigations confirm the successful encapsulation of propolis within ALg NPs. On the other hand, the propolis-ALg NPs sample showed the highest antimicrobial activity against all examined pathogens in comparison with pure propolis and/or antibiotic (clindamycin). So, it can be concluded that the propolis-ALg NPs exhibited a synergistic antibacterial activity against different bacterial strains.