Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of novel nanofibers bandage formulated with Juniperus communis essential oil targeting antibiotic resistant bacterial strains

The alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens current armament of antibiotics. This global threat to public health revived the search for plant-derived antimicrobial therapeutics. Juniperus communis L. has been used in folk medicine for centuries. This study aims to examine the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber bandages formulate with essential oil extracted from J. communis against clinically relevant ESKAPE ( Escherichia coli , Enterococcus faecium , Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Acinetobacter baumanii , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Enterobacter cloacae ) bacterial pathogens commonly causing nosocomial infections. Bacterial growth curves and bactericidal assays were performed on antibiotic sensitive and resistant clinical bacterial strains collectively known as ESKAPE pathogens. Antibiofilm activity of Juniper essential oil (JEO) was tested against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and E. coli individually in a 96-well plate, and the 96 well plate which contains the bacteria was incubated over night to allow biofilm formation and stained using crystal violet. The antibacterial activity of PCL-based nanofiber membrane formulated with various doses (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) of JEO was tested using disc diffusion method. JEO dilutions (50, 25 and 12.5 µL) demonstrated a dose-dependent antibacterial activity against tested strains and significantly reduced growth after 24 h. JEO also exerted antibiofilm activity against MRSA and E. coli strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Additionally, PCL nanofiber membranes formulated with 8% JEO inhibited MRSA growth as demonstrated by large zone of inhibition on agar plate. JEO has antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens. The potential application of JEO formulated in PCL nanofiber bandages is for wound dressing to treat surgical site infections, burns or skin ulcers.