Zataria multiflora Essential Oil-Silver Nanoparticle Hybrid Nanogel: A Dual-Action Platform With Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity as a Promising Topical Antimicrobial System.

The escalating global threat of antibiotic resistance underscores the urgent need for innovative antimicrobial strategies in wound management. In this regard, the integration of herbal therapeutics with noble metal nanoparticles, particularly silver, represents a promising combined approach for both infection control and tissue regeneration. In the present study, a novel nanogel system for advanced wound healing was developed through the incorporation of Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Three carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based hydrogel formulations were prepared, including an AgNP-loaded hydrogel, a ZM-loaded nanogel (ZM-NGEL), and a hybrid nanogel (ZM-Ag-NGEL). Comprehensive physicochemical characterization demonstrated favorable formulation attributes. The primary nanoemulsions and AgNPs exhibited uniform nanoscale dimensions of 155 ± 7 and 53 ± 6 nm, respectively, along with strongly negative zeta potentials, indicative of excellent colloidal stability. Structural analyses using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed successful component integration and the formation of a polymeric network within the hybrid formulation. Rheological evaluation revealed pronounced shear-thinning behavior and enhanced zero-shear viscosity, most notably in the ZM-Ag-NGEL system. Functionally, the hybrid nanogel displayed superior, dose-dependent, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, significantly outperforming the single-component formulations. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the ZM-Ag-NGEL system effectively combines the wound-healing potential of Zataria multiflora with the potent antimicrobial activity of AgNPs within a stable hydrogel matrix, thereby positioning it as a promising antimicrobial platform for further investigation in topical and biomedical applications.