Abstract
One of the most important trends in chemotherapy is the development of green chemotropic drugs with maximal activity and minimal side effects. The nanoencapsulation of phytochemical oils with natural polymers has been documented as a promising approach to producing nanodrugs with sustainable bioactivity and prolonged stability. In this context, Syzygium aromaticum essential oil (SAEO) and ultrasound-assisted deacetylated chitosan (UCS3) were successfully extracted from clove buds and squid pens, respectively. Grafting of UCS3 by rho-coumaric acid (rho CA) has been performed to fabricate the rho CACS nanogel which was used for nanoencapsulation of SAEO to yield SAEO-loaded nanogel (rho CACS@SAEO). The findings of spectral, thermal, and morphological analyses have confirmed the success of the formation of new materials and SAEO encapsulation, as well. Based on the findings of the in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer studies, the nanoencapsulation of SAEO by rho CACS has significantly boosted its chemotherapeutic effects, compared to unencapsulated oil. Therefore, rho CACS@SAEO nanogel could be considered as a multifunctional chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive agent for prevention or therapy of pathologies induced by oxidative stress, microbial infection, and breast and skin cancer.