Development and Characterization of Lyophilized Liposomal Garlic Extract Nanoparticles as Natural Antimicrobial Dusting Powder

The primary objective of the present study was to develop and systematically evaluate lyophilized liposomal nanoparticles incorporating garlic extract for their potential application as a natural antibacterial dusting powder. Garlic extract, rich in bioactive sulfur compounds such as allicin, exhibits strong antimicrobial activity; however, its instability and susceptibility to degradation limit its direct therapeutic use. To address these challenges, the extract was successfully encapsulated within phospholipid-based nanoliposomes, which serve as effective carriers to enhance stability, protect the active constituents, and enable controlled and sustained release. The formulation was prepared using high-shear homogenization to produce nanosized vesicles, followed by lyophilization to convert the liquid dispersion into a dry, free-flowing powder suitable for topical administration. This approach not only improves the shelf-life of the formulation but also enhances patient convenience and ease of application. Physicochemical characterization, including particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, and encapsulation efficiency studies, confirmed the successful formation of stable nanoscale liposomes with high drug-loading capacity, achieving encapsulation efficiency of up to 95%. Further morphological evaluation using scanning electron microscopy revealed uniformly distributed, spherical vesicles, indicating good structural integrity. Antimicrobial studies demonstrated that the liposomal garlic formulation exhibited potent inhibitory activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, comparable to that of conventional antibiotics. Overall, the developed formulation represents a safe, effective, and naturally derived antibacterial alternative with promising applications in wound care, personal hygiene, and biomedical fields, offering enhanced stability, efficacy, and therapeutic potential.