o:36498 Comparative Study of Natamycin Encapsulation in Liposomes: Thin-Film vs. Proliposome Methods for Enhanced Stability, Controlled Release, and Efficacy Against Milk Spoilage and Pathogenic Microorganisms en The aim of this study was to evaluate liposomal particles as a potential delivery system for natamycin, a widely known antimicrobial agent used in the food industry. The goal was to prolong its diffusion into the surrounding medium. Natamycin-loaded liposomes were prepared using two methods (proliposome and thin-film) and two different phospholipid mixtures. The characterization of natamycin-loaded liposomes was performed in terms of their chemical composition (FT-IR analysis), encapsulation efficiency (EE), and antimicrobial potential against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms that can be found in milk and milk products. During the 60-day storage period, their size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were measured. The in vitro release kinetics of natamycin from liposomes were also assessed, and the results showed a significantly lower release rate of the drug when it was encapsulated. EE showed a high level of natamycin encapsulation (>80%), which was confirmed with FT-IR analysis. The stability study indicated that these systems were stable over a 60-day storage period, as the zeta potential of all formulations was ~−25 mV. Satisfactory antimicrobial performance of the developed liposomes against Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Aspergillus flavus (MIC values from 0.00625 to 4 mg/mL) indicates that loading of natamycin into liposomal carriers was an adequate method for their encapsulation and delivery in the milk industry. antifungal agent; food industry; encapsulation; stability 1552099 10.3390/foods14173064 2025-08-30T08:33:18.707Z 44 yes 46 Natalija Čutović Institute for Medicinal Plant Research “Dr. Josif Pančić”, Tadeuša Koscuska 1, Serbia, Belgrade Petar Batinić Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić“, Belgrade, Serbia person Tatjana Marković Institute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr. Josif Pančić“, Belgrade, Serbia person Jovana Petrovic Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia person Milena Obradovic Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, Bulevar Franše d’ Epere 86, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia person Branko Bugarski Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade person Aleksandra Jovanović University of Belgrade, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy doktor tehnoloških nauka person 0000-0001-5394-0125 application/pdf 4356185 https://phaidrabg.bg.ac.rs/o:36498 no yes 16 70 92000001 11A21 11A29 11A41 Comparative Study of Natamycin Encapsulation in Liposomes: Thin-Film vs. Proliposome Methods for Enhanced Stability, Controlled Release, and Efficacy Against Milk Spoilage and Pathogenic Microorganisms 14 3064 Foods Basel, Switzerland MDPI 2025