Abstract
The present study reports on the development and evaluation of nanostructured composite coatings of polylactic acid (PLA) embedded with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) modified with Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oil. The co-precipitation method was employed to synthesize the magnetite particles conjugated with Eucalyptus natural antibiotic (Fe3O4@EG), while their composition and microstructure were investigated using grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique was further employed to obtain PLA/Fe3O4@EG thin films. Optimal experimental conditions for laser processing were established by complementary infrared microscopy (IRM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations. The in vitro biocompatibility with eukaryote cells was proven using mesenchymal stem cells, while the anti-biofilm efficiency of composite PLA/Fe3O4@EG coatings was assessed against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens.
Highlights
Introduction distributed under the terms andTraditional medicine relies on exploring the experience-based therapeutic benefits of extracts and infusions from different parts of plants and herbs
Substantial antibacterial effects of Eucalyptus essential oils were evidenced against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by Bachir & Benali, with a more prominent effect being reported on the Gram-negative strain [33]
We report the deposition of composite films based on polylactic acid (PLA) embedded with magnetite nanoparticles in situ conjugated with Eucalyptus essential oil (Fe3 O4 @Eucalyptus globulus (EG))
Summary
Traditional medicine relies on exploring the experience-based therapeutic benefits of extracts and infusions from different parts of plants and herbs. This rather temporary and non-selective approach and the current advances in pharmaceutical sciences determined an increased interest for new and performance-enhanced formulations. The increased efficiency of essential oils derived from different Eucalyptus species against Gram-negative pathogens [34,35] was mainly related to the abundance of a water-insoluble 1,8–cineole (eucalyptol) component, which may cause the disruption of bacterial outer membrane and the leakage of cytoplasm [36,37]. Complementary studies evaluated the correlation between the chemical composition and the antibacterial efficiency of essential oils from different Eucalyptus species, proving their potential application in pharmaceutical products [38,39]
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