Encapsulation of Alpinia leaf essential oil in nanophytosome-embedded gel as novel strategy to treat periodontal infections: evaluation of antimicrobial effectiveness, pharmacokinetic, in vitro-ex vivo correlation and in silico studies

Abstract

Aim

The work reports a novel nanophytosomal gel encapsulating Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd leaf essential oil to treat periodontal infections.

Methods

Alpinia oil-loaded nanophytosomes (ANPs) were formulated by lipid layer hydration technique and were evaluated by FESEM, cryo-TEM, loading efficiency, zeta potential, particle size, release profile etc. Selected ANPs-loaded gel (ANPsG) was evaluated by both in vitro and in vivo methods.

Results

Selected ANPs were spherical, unilamellar, 49.32 ± 2.1 nm size, 0.45 PDI, −46.7 ± 0.8 mV zeta potential, 9.8 ± 0.5% (w/w) loading, 86.4 ± 3.02% (w/w) loading efficiency with sustained release profile. ANPsG showed good spreadability (6.8 ± 0.3 gm.cm/sec), extrudability (79.33 ± 1.5%), viscosity (36522 ± 0.82 cps), mucoadhesive strength (44.56 ± 3.5 gf) with sustained ex vivo release tendency. Satisfied ZOI and MIC was observed for ANPsG against periodontal bacteria vs. standard/control. ANPsG efficiently treated infection in ligature induced periodontitis model. Key pharmacokinetic parameters like AUC, MRT, V_d were enhanced for ANPsG.

Conclusion

ANPsG may be investigated for futuristic clinical studies.

Keywords:

• Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd
• leaf essential oil
• nanophytosome
• gel
• antimicrobial effectiveness
• in vitro ex vivo correlation
• pharmacokinetic studies

Acknowledgements

The authors are very much grateful to Prof. Manojranjan Nayak, President, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University) for providing necessary facilities and encouragement.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.