and Vishnu Agarwal

ABSTRACT: The inhibitory effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil was evaluated against the E. coli and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of Eucalyptus globulus oil was calculated by agar dilution assay, which was found to be 1µl/ml. The E. coli biofilm was formed on catheter surface and quantified by crystal violet staining system. The crystal violet quantification method showed maximum biofilm after 48h. The effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil was evaluated against E. coli biofilm and was found to inhibit the biofilm by 62%. To evaluate the effect of oil containing silica nanoparticle against biofilm system, the E. globulus oil was loaded in the silica nanoparticle. The synthesized nanoparticle (SNP) was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and data showed the average size of silica nanoparticle 1000 nm. The application of oil loaded silica nanoparticle was done against E coli biofilm system and biofilm quantification assay showed 81 % reduction in biofilm. The inhibition was further confirmed using light microscopic analysis of biofilm after staining with 0.5 % crystal violet. The study is important which can be useful to use Eucalyptus globulus oil encapsulated inside the nanoparticle for its potential use in prevention and control of biofilm associated microbial infections and diseases. INTRODUCTION: Bacterial biofilm are complex sessile microbial communities formed on living and nonliving surfac