Confidence Onyebuchi and Doga Kavaz
The low solubility, loss of mucoadhesivity and poor absorption property of chitosan (CS) at physiological pH limits its applicability in biomedical and pharmaceutical field. N,N,N-Trimethyl Chitosan (TMC) have shown enhanced penetration property, well-defined structure and improved solubility over wide pH range. Ocimum gratissimum Essential Oils (OGEOs) and methanolic extracts (OGEO-MeOH) have known bioactivity. Chemical qualitative analysis of the extracts by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) showed newly found compounds not previously reported for OGEO such as eicosane, heneicosane, triphenylphosphine oxide, 1-acetyl-2methyl-2-cycloppentene, (E)-9-octadecenoic acid, 2-carene, andgamma-terpinene.
Different methods and optimized technique were adopted for the successful synthesis of OGEO-loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles (OGEO-CSNPs) and OGEO-loaded Trimethyl Chitosan Nanoparticle (OGEO-TMCNPs). With reference to zeta potential and polydispersity index of the nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticle was characterized with UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
In vitro-release kinetics of OGEO release revealed higher (P < 0.05) OGEO release efficiency from OGEO-TMCNPs over long period of time compared to the OGEO-CSNPs. The antioxidant activity assay showed that, OGEO-CSNPs and OGEO-TMCNPs never reached a steady state after 75 h. All samples exhibited antimicrobial properties at specific concentration. OGEO-TMCNPs exhibited antibacterial activity at lower concentration notably 40 mg mL-1 for E. coli, 20 mg mL-1 for B. cereus, 20 mg mL-1 for S. aureus and 80 mg mL-1 for S. typhimurium. In vitro cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines revealed that OGEO-TMCNPs exhibited higher toxicity (P < 0.05). The physiochemical properties of OGEO-TMCNPs and OGEO-CSNPs have shown more promising application in pharmaceutical and food industries.