Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Effects of Ferula gummosa Essential Oil–Chitosan (CS-FEO) Nanocomposite

Nowadays, the antimicrobial properties of herbal essential oils (EO) have received extensive attention due to their considerable antimicrobial potential against multidrug-resistant pathogens. However, the volatility and sensitivity of OEs limit their traditional use in aquatic environments. Specialized nanocarriers as additives can improve their chemical stability and solubility, delay degradation and curb rapid evaporation. With this aim, chitosan Ferula gummosa EO-nanocomposite (CS-FEO) was prepared through a facile method. In addition, the antibacterial properties were studied by observing the inhibition zone against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus using the agar well diffusion assay method. Further, a transparent and flexible CS-FEO biopolymer film was prepared and characterized. The results showed significant antibacterial activity of the prepared CS-FEO nanocomposite. The fabricated CS-FEO nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The FTIR results revealed the interaction between chitosan and FEO, and the XRD pattern for pure CS nanoparticles indicated a high degree of crystallinity. In contrast, CS-FEO nanoparticles exhibited a reduction in crystallinity peaks, indicating that the loading of CS may further reduce its crystallinity. The obtained results demonstrates that the prepared CS-FEO nanocomposite could be a potential candidate for food and biomedical applications as they hold the promising capability of proper interactions and advanced features.