Poly(lactic acid)/carvacrol-based materials: preparation, physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial activity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Growing demand for novel antimicrobial systems.
• Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) offers eco-friendly and cytocompatible properties for food and biomedical applications.
• Carvacrol (CAR) possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and can be integrated into PLA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review methods for incorporating carvacrol (CAR) into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrices.
• To analyze the impact of CAR incorporation on the morphomechanical properties, release behavior, and antimicrobial activity of PLA-based systems.
• To highlight the potential of PLA/CAR materials for future applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of common techniques for compounding CAR into PLA.
• Analysis of studies investigating the effects of CAR integration on material properties.
• Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy and release kinetics of PLA/CAR systems.

Main Results:

• Various methods exist to incorporate CAR into PLA, influencing material characteristics.
• PLA/CAR composites demonstrate tunable morphomechanical properties and controlled release profiles.
• Significant antimicrobial activity against a range of microorganisms is observed.

Conclusions:

• PLA/CAR materials present a promising platform for developing advanced antimicrobial solutions.
• These materials are suitable for applications in food packaging, medical devices, and drug delivery systems.
• The synergy between PLA's properties and CAR's bioactivity supports their development within green chemistry principles.