CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES ADDED WITH ESSENTIAL OILS. In vitro EFFECT ON Pectobacterium carotovorum CARACTERIZACI ´ ON DE NANOPART ´ ICULAS DE QUITOSANO ADICIONADAS CON ACEITES ESENCIALES. EFECTO in vitro EN Pectobacterium carotovorum

Chitosan is a biomacromolecule with antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, while essential oils are known to possess antimicrobial activity. In this work, lime and thyme essential oils were encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation method. The success of the encapsulation was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Z Potential. The obtained nanoparticles exhibited a regular distribution and spherical shape with size range of 117-250 nm. The antibacterial activity of the chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles added with thyme essential oil presented a significant inhibitory e ect on the growth of Pectobacterium carotovorum.