Objectives:

The increase in epidemic diseases and the frequent use of alcoholic disinfectants, despite their side effects, prompt scientists to develop new sterilization products that do not have alcoholic material. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to develop, prepare, and evaluate a nanoemulgel skin sanitizer using essential oils as an active substance.

Materials and Methods:

Microwave-based technique was used to prepare nanoemulsion. The pseudo ternary phase plots were constructed to contain three ingredients which are essential oils, polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate, and propylene glycol mixture 1:0.75 (w/w) % and double distilled. Five samples of nanoemulsion (NE1-NE5) were selected for the characterization process and preparation of nanoemulgel (HN1- HN5). Blank gel (HN6) was also prepared to compare the antibacterial activity against HN1- HN5 formulations. Various evaluation processes were achieved for HN1- HN6 formulations. The statistical test was a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P≤0.05 as significant data.

Results:

The characterization process indicates that NE1-NE5 formulations had nano-sized droplets and homogenous distribution with acceptable charge. The evaluation process for HN1- HN6 formulations indicates clear, homogenous, with distinctive essential oils odor and no phase separation, slightly acidic pH, spreadability (128.22 to 124.22 g*cm/sec g*cm/sec), plastic rheological flow, no skin lesion after application and conspicuous antimicrobial activity.

Conclusion:

The laboratory characterization and evaluation demonstrated the existence of a promising product for sanitization of human skin and could be a successful alternative to alcoholic products, based on the growing desire for essential oil products.

Keywords: Essential oils, Nanoemulsion, Nanoemulgel, Microwaves based method