Micellar systems of the o/w type with essential oils of andiroba and lemon grass with applications for the elimination of bacterial activity

Abstract

In this study, a promising microemulsion delivery system containing andiroba essential oil, lemongrass essential oil, and chitosan was developed and applied in 100% cotton fabrics to provide antibacterial functionality. The developed micellar systems were characterized by coloration, electrical conductivity, viscosity, zeta potential, particle size, temperature resistance, and microbial activity analyses. The microemulsions in the substrates were verified by FTIR analyses and microbial activity before and after the domestic washing of the functionalized fabrics. The microemulsions SMs_P1 and SMs_P4 showed more significant inhibitory action against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter sp. bacteria, observed in the functionalized samples before and after domestic washing. In this study, the microemulsions SMs_P1 and SMs_P4 developed and tested on 100% cotton fabrics have greater application viability because they showed inhibitory action against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter sp. This antibacterial functionality of the microemulsions was also observed in 100% cotton fabrics treated with them (Ta_SMs_P1 and Ta_SMs_P4) before and after domestic washing, as demonstrated by FTIR and antimicrobial activity analyses, with greater emphasis on microemulsion SMs_P4, which has lower concentrations than SMs_P1 and showed significant values (halo size) in blocking the action of Escherichia coli bacteria.