Al-Adham ISI, Jaber N, Al-Remawi M, Al-Akayleh F, Al-Kaissi E, Ali Agha ASA, Fitzsimmons LB, Collier PJ. A review of the antimicrobial activity of thermodynamically stable microemulsions.
Lett Appl Microbiol 2021;
75:537-547. [PMID:
34591987 DOI:
10.1111/lam.13570]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable, transparent, isotropic mixtures of oil, water and surfactant (and sometimes a co-surfactant), which have shown potential for widespread application in disinfection and self-preservation. This is thought to be due to an innate antimicrobial effect. It is suggested that the antimicrobial nature of microemulsions is the result of a combination of their inherent kinetic energy and their containing surfactants, which are known to aid the disruption of bacterial membranes. This review examines the contemporary evidence in support of this theory.
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