Abstract

The use of the nanoparticle-based delivery system in aquaculture has become a prospective method to improve bioavailability, stability, and controlled release of herbal bioactive compounds. These systems, especially polymeric nanoparticles, have a great potential in surmounting the shortcomings of herbal compounds, which include low solubility and instability in aqueous conditions. The research aimed to prepare ginger extract-loaded nanoparticles with the use of PLGA (Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)) as the encapsulating polymer and analyze their usefulness in the controlled release in aquaculture environments. The ginger extract was acquired through the hot water extraction process, and the synthesis of the nanoparticles was done through the solvent evaporation technique. Some of the methods, such as UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and Dark Field Microscopy, were used to characterize the nanoparticles. Formulation efficiency of 85% and drug loading of 12.5% were identified to determine the effectiveness of the formulation. The release profiles of the in vitro experiment at different pH levels (1.5, 5.5, and 7.4) showed that it was pH-sensitive as it was more released at basic pH, which is a replica of the aquatic environment. Diffusion-controlled and polymer relaxation mechanisms were observed in all conditions through the release kinetics. The findings have shown that nanoparticle systems can be helpful in terms of delivering bioactive herbal compounds in a sustained and controlled fashion, which helps to improve the health, growth, and immunity of fish. To sum up, the ginger-loaded polymeric nanoparticles are a promising approach to sustainable aquaculture, which has increased bioavailability and stability of herbal compounds, yet issues with scalability and safety still need to be investigated.