Evaluating the Antimicrobial Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina through Encapsulation with Starch Nanoparticles

Department of Biotechnology, PES University, India

^†All the Authors contribution equally to this work

*Corresponding author: Dr. M.S. Dinesh, Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, PES University, Bangalore, India, E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: March 26, 2025

Publication Date: April 22, 2025

Citation: Saiprasad K, et al. (2025). Evaluating the Antimicrobial Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina through Encapsulation with Starch Nanoparticles. Nanoparticle. 6(1):19.

Copyright: Saiprasad K, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Starch, a naturally abundant polymer, holds significant potential in polymeric drug delivery systems due to its biocompatible and biodegradable nature. However, native starch extracted directly from plants faces limitations such as low thermal stability and hydrophilicity. To address these challenges, starch nanoparticles have emerged as a promising drug delivery system that offer advantages like cost-effectiveness, high drug loading capacity, and controlled release of drugs. By incorporating phytochemicals from the plant Vernonia amygdalina, these nanoparticles are expected to exhibit improved stability and enhanced antimicrobial effectiveness. The collection and authentication of Vernonia amygdalina, preparation of phytochemical extracts, standardization of nanoparticle production processes along with the characterization, through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), of the obtained nanoparticles are carried out in this study. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the polymer nanoparticles against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is assessed using the Agar well diffusion method. This study aims to provide insights into the development of phytochemical-encapsulated starch nanoparticles and investigate their potential as antimicrobial formulations.

Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina, Starch Nanoparticles, Phytochemicals, Phytoextracts, Nanoprecipitation, Probe Sonication, Antimicrobial Activity, Nano Encapsulation, DLS, SEM, FTIR