Propolis-Chitosan Nanoparticles: A Novel Antimicrobial Strategy for Gut Microbiota

The developing resistance of bacteria to traditional antibiotics has drawn a lot of attention recently to the development of natural and biocompatible antimicrobial agents. This paper shows the synthesis, physicochemical description, and antibacterial assessment of chitosan nanoparticles that encapsulate propolis from Northern Cyprus. Propolis has significant antibacterial activities because of its high concentration of phenolic and flavonoid ingredients. Ionic gelation was used to create the nanoparticles, which were then confirmed using a variety of analytical methods. A clear absorption band at ۲۰۰–۲۱۰ nm was discovered by UV–Visible spectroscopy, suggesting the presence of phenolic chemicals. Proper colloidal stability was shown by dynamic light scattering, which revealed an average particle size of ۱۵۰–۲۲۰ nm and a zeta potential of roughly +۱۴.۱۵ mV. While FT-IR spectra showed interactions between the propolis bioactive and chitosan functional groups, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) verified an amorphous structure. The disk diffusion technique was utilized to measure the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Propolis-Loaded Chitosan NanoParticles (PL-CNPs) formed an inhibition zone of ۴.۱۶ ± ۰.۷۶ mm against E. coli at ۱۰۰ μg/mL, compared to ۱.۵ ± ۰.۵ mm for Chitosan NanoParticles (CNPs), representing a ۲.۸-fold enhancement. Despite CNPs, which exhibited very little activity, PL-CNPs generated noticeable inhibitory zones. This study provides the first direct comparative quantification of the synergistic enhancement of PL-CNPs against both gut pathogens with statistical validation. These results show a synergistic impact, with chitosan improving transport and activity and propolis acting as the main antibacterial agent. With possible uses in probiotics, functional meals, and targeted antimicrobial treatments, the findings imply that this biocompatible nanoparticle technology may be a viable option to control harmful gut bacteria.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antimicrobial activity ، chitosan nanoparticles ، Disk diffusion ، Escherichia coli ، Enterococcus faecalis ، Gut Microbiota ، Propolis