Large-scale preparation of clove essential oil and eugenol-loaded liposomes using a membrane contactor and a pilot plant

Abstract

Based on our previous study where optimal conditions were defined to encapsulate clove essential oil (CEO) into liposomes at laboratory scale, we scaled-up the preparation of CEO and eugenol (Eug)-loaded liposomes using a membrane contactor (600 mL) and a pilot plant (3 L) based on the principle of ethanol injection method, both equipped with a Shirasu Porous Glass membrane for injection of the organic phase into the aqueous phase. Homogenous, stable, nanometric-sized and multilamellar liposomes with high phospholipid, Eug loading rates and encapsulation efficiency of CEO components were obtained. Saturation of phospholipids and drug concentration in the organic phase may control the liposome stability. Liposomes loaded with other hydrophobic volatile compounds could be prepared at large scale using the ethanol injection method and a membrane for injection.

• Clove essential oil
• eugenol
• Lipoid S100
• liposomes
• membrane contactor
• membrane emulsification
• Phospholipon 90H
• pilot
• scale up

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declaration of interest. The research was supported by the Research Funding Program at the Lebanese University, Lebanon, and by Laboratoire d'Automatique et de Génie des Procédés, France.

Authors thank the Lebanese University and the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L) to provide a scholarship for Carine Sebaaly.