Grafted chitosan nanogel with 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid: synthesis, characterization and application in the encapsulation of monoterpenes with antifungal properties

Herein, a novel grafted chitosan nanogel with 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid was carried out aiming at the encapsulation of the monoterpenes carvacrol and thymol, with the purpose of developing a material that can be used in the control of the fungus Microsporum canis. The nanogel encapsulation efficiency showed an encapsulation capacity of 12.9% carvacrol and 13.3% thymol. When in an aqueous medium the nanogel with the respective encapsulated monoterpene oils was able to form stable nanoparticles. The nanogels chitosan-g-3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid-carvacrol and chitosan-g-3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid-thymol showed antifungal potential against the fungus Microsporum canis, being able to inhibit mycelial growth by 100.00 and 93.13%, respectively.