From bulk to nano-delivery of essential phytochemicals: recent progress and strategies for antibacterial resistance

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms caused by antibiotic resistance are a severe cause of infection threatening human health nowadays. The primary causes of this emerging threat are poor penetration of conventional antibiotics and the growing number of varied strains of resistant bacteria. Recently, bulk phytochemical oils have been widely explored for their potential as antibacterial agents. However, due to their poor solubility, low stability, and highly volatile properties, essential oils are not effective for in vitro and in vivo antibacterial applications and require further preparation. In this review, we discuss the recent progress and strategies to overcome the drawbacks of bulk phytochemical oils using nano-delivery, as well as the current challenges and future outlook of these nano-delivery systems against bacterial resistance.