Smectite Clay Nanoparticles as a Sustained Release System for Cinnamom Essential Oil Targeting Candida albicans

• Published in: Chemistry Africa 2024-08, Vol.7 (6), p.3185-3200
• Main Authors: Saad, Houda, Ayed, Ameni, Srasra, Mondher, Mezni, Mohamed, Essid, Rim, Jallouli, Slim, Tabbene, Olfa, Srasra, Ezzeddine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Inorganic Chemistry; Organometallic Chemistry; Original Article
• ISSN: 2522-5758; 2522-5766
• DOI: 10.1007/s42250-024-01027-9

The present study aims to investigate the potential use of clay nanoparticles as a sustained release system for cinnamom essential oil active compounds for a potential application as antifungal. The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the cinnamom essential oil revealed that cinnamaldehyde (96.95%) is the main component. Purified (Na-clay) and acid-activated (Acid-clay) clays were considered. Hence, sodium purified Tunisian smectite clay was activated with sulfuric acid (3 N) under reflux conditions for 1 h. The cinnamom essential oil loading into clays was conducted for different initial concentrations. The adsorption isotherms were also established according to Langmuir and Freundlich models. The resulting essential oil/clay hybrids were characterized by Zeta potential, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MAS-NMR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of carried and free cinnamom essential oil was assessed against Candida albicans fungi. The release kinetic and the stability of the loaded essential oil were examined. Results showed that clay acid treatment enhanced the retention rate of cinnamldehyde from 6.50 to 39.16% for an initial cinnamom essential oil concentration equal to 1 mg/mL. All techniques confirmed hybrids formation by adsorption of cinnamaldehyde on Na-clay external surface and inside Acid-clay micropores. Both hybrids based on Na-clay and Acid-clay exhibited high antifungal activity against Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration equal to 62.5 µg/mL and 125 µg/mL, respectively. The use of Na-clay and Acid- clay as vectors for cinnamom essential oil ensured the slow and prolonged release of cinnamaldehyde as well as its stability.