Optimization of Carvacrol Nanoemulsion for the Incorporation in Pectin Membranes: Influence on Their Load Capacity, Microstructure and Antibacterial Properties

• Autor(a) principal: Beltrán,O.
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Luna,M., Valbuena-Gregorio,E., Valdez-Melchor,R. G., Burruel-Ibarra,S. E., Quihui-Cota,L., Ruiz-Cruz,S., Juárez,J., López-Mata,M. A.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Materials research (São Carlos. Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392022000100304
• topic: pectin; membrane; emulsion; carvacrol; antibacterial

Interest in developing novel wound dressings with antibacterial properties elaborated from natural sources continues to grow. In this study, a Tween-80 (T80)-stabilized carvacrol (CAR) emulsion was incorporated into pectin (PEC) membranes at 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00% (v/v). Membranes were obtained by the dry-casting method, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and CAR retention (HPLC), and tested for antibacterial activity. The retention percentage of CAR in the membranes ranged from 9.1-13.9%. Infrared spectra analysis indicated changes in the hydrogen bonds of the membranes that suggest an interaction between the polymer matrix and the CAR:T80 emulsion. Microstructural analysis of the membranes showed the presence of hole-like features on the surface (≈ 4-6 µm diameter) that indicate entrapment of the micelles in the matrix (microcapsules). The PEC-CAR membranes exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, two pathogens commonly associated with wounds and intra-hospital infections.