Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects of PLGA-Based Nanoparticles Modified With Chitosan-Folic Acid for Delivering Artemisia vulgaris Essential Oil

Introduction: Many diseases associated with oxidative stress threaten human health, exaggerated by antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections due to the increasing use of antibiotics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a nanoemulsion prepared from Artemisia vulgaris essential oil (EO). Methods: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in this study. The disk diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to investigate the antibacterial properties of the synthesized NPs. In addition, the microdilution method was utilized to examine the antimicrobial properties of the synthetic substance. Inhibitory concentrations (MIC and MBC) were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the nanoemulsion was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl-hydrazyl biochemical method. Results: The findings of this study demonstrated that the synthesized NPs had significant growth inhibitory effects against Gram-positive bacteria with considerable inhibition of growth being observed for S. aureus and M. luteus. Conclusion: In general, Artemisia EO seems to be beneficial for treating bacterial infections owing to its antimicrobial properties and antioxidant effects. Further therapeutic applications of this EO as a potential drug carrier are yet to be divulged in future studies.