Next Article in Journal
Carbon Dots and Biomimetic Membrane Systems: Mechanistic Interactions and Hybrid Nano-Lipid Platforms
Previous Article in Journal
Effect of Nano-TiO2 Dioxide on the Hydration Process of Tunnel Construction in Low-Temperature Environments
Previous Article in Special Issue
Green Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Asafoetida and Their Antibacterial Properties
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Nanomaterials
Volume 16
Issue 2
10.3390/nano16020139
nanomaterials-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Chemically Modified Zein- and Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Based Core–Shell Sub-Micro/Nanoparticles for Essential Oil Delivery: Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Life Cycle Assessment

by
Liudmyla Gryshchuk
1,2,*,
Kyriaki Marina Lyra
3,
Zili Sideratou
3,
Fotios K. Katsaros
3,
Sergiy Grishchuk
4,
Nataliia Hudzenko
2,
Milena Násner
5,
José Gallego
5 and
Léo Staccioli
5
1
PS Resins GmbH, Lembergerstr. 94, 66955 Pirmasens, Germany
2
Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 58, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
3
Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Attiki, Greece
4
Department of Applied Logistics and Polymer Sciences, Campus Pirmasens, Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10-16, 66953 Pirmasens, Germany
5
ARDITEC Association, 48 Avenue Mont-Rabeau, 06200 Nice, France
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(2), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020139
Submission received: 14 December 2025 / Revised: 13 January 2026 / Accepted: 17 January 2026 / Published: 20 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Antibacterial Nanoscale Materials)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

The threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the need for sustainable disinfectants have spurred interest in natural antimicrobials such as essential oils (EOs). However, their application is limited by volatility, poor water solubility, and cytotoxicity. Herein, we present the development of bio-based core–shell sub-micro-/nanocapsules (NCs) with encapsulated oregano (OO), thyme (TO), eucalyptus (EuO), and tea tree (TTO) oils to enhance antimicrobial (AM) performance and reduce cytotoxicity. NCs were synthesized via a nanoencapsulation method using chemically modified zein or poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) (GZA) as shell polymers, with selected EOs encapsulated in their core (encapsulation efficacy > 98%). Chemical modification of zein with vanillin (VA) and GZA with either dodecyl amine (DDA) or 3-(glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (EPTMS) resulted in improvement in particle size distributions, polydispersity indices (PDIs) of synthesized NCs, and in the stability of the NC-dispersions in water. Antibacterial testing against Staphylococcus aureus and cytotoxicity assays showed that encapsulation significantly reduced toxicity while preserving their antibacterial activity. Among the formulations, GZA-based NCs modified with EPTMS provided the best balance between safety and efficacy. Despite this, life cycle assessment revealed that zein-based NCs were more environmentally sustainable due to lower energy use and material impact. Overall, the approach offers a promising strategy for developing sustainable, effective, and safe EO-based antibacterial agents for AM applications.
Keywords: nanocapsules; bio-based polymers; essential oils; antimicrobial; toxicity; life cycle assessment nanocapsules; bio-based polymers; essential oils; antimicrobial; toxicity; life cycle assessment

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Gryshchuk, L.; Lyra, K.M.; Sideratou, Z.; Katsaros, F.K.; Grishchuk, S.; Hudzenko, N.; Násner, M.; Gallego, J.; Staccioli, L. Chemically Modified Zein- and Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Based Core–Shell Sub-Micro/Nanoparticles for Essential Oil Delivery: Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Life Cycle Assessment. Nanomaterials 2026, 16, 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020139

AMA Style

Gryshchuk L, Lyra KM, Sideratou Z, Katsaros FK, Grishchuk S, Hudzenko N, Násner M, Gallego J, Staccioli L. Chemically Modified Zein- and Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Based Core–Shell Sub-Micro/Nanoparticles for Essential Oil Delivery: Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Life Cycle Assessment. Nanomaterials. 2026; 16(2):139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020139

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gryshchuk, Liudmyla, Kyriaki Marina Lyra, Zili Sideratou, Fotios K. Katsaros, Sergiy Grishchuk, Nataliia Hudzenko, Milena Násner, José Gallego, and Léo Staccioli. 2026. "Chemically Modified Zein- and Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Based Core–Shell Sub-Micro/Nanoparticles for Essential Oil Delivery: Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Life Cycle Assessment" Nanomaterials 16, no. 2: 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020139

APA Style

Gryshchuk, L., Lyra, K. M., Sideratou, Z., Katsaros, F. K., Grishchuk, S., Hudzenko, N., Násner, M., Gallego, J., & Staccioli, L. (2026). Chemically Modified Zein- and Poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride)-Based Core–Shell Sub-Micro/Nanoparticles for Essential Oil Delivery: Antibacterial Activity, Cytotoxicity, and Life Cycle Assessment. Nanomaterials, 16(2), 139. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16020139

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop