Antibacterial action of insect chitosan/gum Arabic nanocomposites encapsulating eugenol and selenium nanoparticles

Abstract

The nanopolymers compositing and utilization for bioactive materials delivery could provide more bio-efficacy and biosafety targeting biological systems. Chitosan (CT) was extracted from black soldier “BSF; Hermetia illucens” fly and transformed to nanoparticles (NCT) via conjugation with gum Arabic (GA). Eugenol (Eug) and biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were innovatively loaded into NCT/GA nanocomposite and the entire composites were characterized and evaluated as antibacterial agents. The fabricated nanocomposites (SeNPs, NCT/GA, NCT/GA/Eug and NCT/GA/Eug/SeNPs) had mean particles sized of 9.7, 124.8, 132.6 and 134.2 nm, respectively, and the entire polymers nanocomposites carried positive charges of >+30 mV. The bacterial killing actions of fabricated polymers nanocomposites (NCT/GA) and their conjugates with Eug and SeNPs were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and confirmed through scanning microscope imaging against Gram+ (Escherichia coli) and Gram- (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Results indicated the forceful action of NCT/GA/Eug/SeNPs nanocomposites toward both strains, which significantly exceeded the standard antibiotic. The treated bacteria with NCT/GA/Eug/SeNPs had vigorous deformations and distortions in structures after 5 h and were completely lysed/exploded after 10 h of exposure. The outcomes could recommend the applications of innovatively synthesized NCT/GA/Eug/SeNPs as powerful antimicrobial nanocomposite for potential usage in food and pharmaceutical sectors.