Phytochemicals and cyclodextrins based- Pickering emulsions: natural potentiators of antibacterial, antifungal and antibiofilm activity.

We present self-assembled Pickering emulsions containing biocidal phytochemical oils (carvacrol and terpinen-4-ol) and beta-cyclodextrin able to potentiate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of miconazoctylium bromide. The carvacrol-containing emulsion is 2-fold more sensitive against C. albicans and S. aureus and highly active against E. coli, compared to the commercial cream containing miconazole nitrate. Moreover, this emulsion shows a synergistic effect against fungi, additive responses against bacteria, and remarkable staphylococcal biofilm eradication. These results are associated with membrane permeabilization, enzymes inhibition, and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in microorganisms.