Essential oils with antimicrobial properties formulated in lipid nanoparticles: review of the state of the art.

This chapter discusses the main essential oils obtained from plants, which are recognized to have antimicrobial activity, highlighting the recent nanotechnological advances in lipid nanoparticles to improve the loading of antimicrobials and their therapeutic effects. The literature reports the antimicrobial activity of several essential oils, showing activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial activity of essential oils is focused on the treatment of strains resistant to conventional antibiotics. Several studies have reported the antimicrobial activity of essential oils Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Artemisia santonica, Zataria multiflora. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) are composed of physiological lipids, with a diameter ranging between 1 nm and 1000 nm. Liposomes may be used to load essential oils to protect them against degradation and improve solubilization. Nanoemulsions have been widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries to load essential oils. The selection of the most appropriate system depends on the physicochemical properties of the essential oil compounds and administration route.