Nanotechnology improves the therapeutic efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil in experimentally infected Rhamdia quelen with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important agent representing high mortality and significant economic losses in aquaculture. Due to growing reports of antimicrobial resistance, it is important to develop studies involving alternative therapies and new technologies, including the use of essential oils and nanotechnology. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (TTO) exerts in vivo bactericidal action against P. aeruginosa strain PA01, as well as to evaluate whether nanotechnology is able to improve this action in experimentally infected Rhamdia quelen . Our results demonstrated that free TTO and nanoencapsulated TTO exert potent bactericidal action against P. aeruginosa . The most important finding is that TTO nanoparticles possess 100% of curative efficacy, while free TTO possesses 70% of curative efficacy. In summary, the nanoencapsulation of TTO was able to improve the bactericidal action of TTO, and may be considered an important approach to prevent and/or treat infected animals with P. aeruginosa .