Anti-biofilm activity of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride microcapsules against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) was trapped into maltodextrins/pectin spray dried microcapsules to improve its activity against Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Two different microcapsules were prepared: uncomplexed DTAC-microcapsules (UDM), containing DTAC and maltodextrins; and complexed DTAC-microcapsules (CDM) containing DTAC complexed with pectin and maltodextrins. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of both free and microencapsulated DTAC were investigated against S. Enteritidis and S. aureus. The MICs of DTAC were significantly lower when encapsulated. CDM treatment resulted in a 2 and 3.2 log reduction in S. aureus and S. Enteritidis biofilm culturable biomass, respectively. Microencapsulation reduced the cytotoxicity of DTAC by up to 32-fold. Free DTAC and CDM targeted the cell membrane resulting in the leakage of the intracellular molecules and subsequent cell death. The development of DTAC microcapsules reduced the amount of DTAC required to maintain the high standards of cleanliness and hygiene required in the food processing industries.

Keywords:

• Dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride
• microencapsulation
• spray drying
• anti-biofilm activity
• Salmonella enteritidis
• Staphylococcus aureus

Acknowledgements

This work was carried out within the framework of ALIBIOTECH program (Agroalimentaire et Biotechnologie). The authors also thank the Haut de France region and FEDER (Fonds Européen de Développement Régional) for their financial support.

Disclosure statement

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

Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this research are included in the article.