Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of red propolis embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Abstract

This work brings the promise of MCM-41 mesoporous silica as a vehicle for red propolis for the development of controlled release drugs and delivery to a specific target site. The synthesis of MCM-41 by the sol–gel method with a pore size of approximately 3.6 nm and the incorporation of red propolis extract by the physical adsorption method in ethanolic medium were easily accomplished with around 15% encapsulation. MCM-41 and MCM-41 with red propolis (MCM-41/Pr) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, N₂ adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy, and an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection (UPLC-DAD). In vitro release of encapsulated red propolis was analyzed in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2, 7.4, and 7.6. An in vitro test for MCM-41/Pr antioxidant activity was performed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl as well as analysis of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus by the well diffusion method. UPLC-DAD analysis showed that the integrity of the red propolis constituents was maintained after the embed process, and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities were preserved.

Keywords:

• Synthesis
• nanostructures
• mesoporous
• red propolis extract
• UPLC-DAD
• antibacterial activities

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Professor PhD Irinaldo Diniz Basílio Júnior of Laboratory of Technology and Control of Drugs, Institute of Pharmaceutic Science, UFAL; Professor PhD Mario Roberto Menegthetti; and Professor PhD Simoni Margareti Plentz Meneghetti of Catalysis and Chemical Reactivity Group, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology (IQB) to UFAL.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), CAPES, and CNPq for financial support. This study was also supported by Professor PhD Antonio Osimar Sousa da Silva of Synthesis of Catalyst Laboratory (LSCat), UFAL.