Microencapsulation of Azadirachta indica oil and Tinospora cordifolia extracts blend for single-use applications

The innovative utilization of the microencapsulation technique and the antimicrobial properties of <i>Azadirachta Indica</i> (A.I.) and <i>Tinospora cordifolia</i> (T.C.) present a novel approach to producing antiseptic wipes. In this study, microcapsules with A.I. oil and T.C. extracts were synthesized and integrated into non-woven cotton fabric aiming to create disposable antiseptic medical wipes. The T.C. extract and A.I. oil were used in a 1:1 ratio and microencapsulated utilizing sodium alginate as the encapsulation material through an ionic gelation process. The optical microscope analysis of microcapsules revealed diverse microcapsule sizes, ranging from 50 μm to 180 μm in diameter and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the treated fabric has uniform distribution of microcapsules across the entire fabric surface. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated through disk diffusion for the extract and oil and the fabric's antimicrobial activity was assessed by measuring bacterial reduction. The treated fabric displayed substantial reductions in both Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (87 %) and <i>Bacillus cereus</i> (99 %)) and Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Escherichia coli</i> (81 %) and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (99 %)). Although the treated fabric exhibited a slight decrease in whiteness (48.5-39), this alteration did not adversely affect other fabric properties. These findings underscore the potential of microencapsulated natural extracts in producing effective antimicrobial medical wipes, thereby contributing to infection control.