Antimicrobial Hydroxyethyl-Cellulose-Based Composite Films with Zinc Oxide and Mesoporous Silica Loaded with Cinnamon Essential Oil
Ludmila Motelica,
Denisa Ficai,
Gabriela Petrisor,
Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea,
Roxana-Doina Trușcǎ,
Anton Ficai,
Ecaterina Andronescu,
Ariana Hudita,
Alina Maria Holban
Affiliations
Ludmila Motelica
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Denisa Ficai
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Gabriela Petrisor
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana-Doina Trușcǎ
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Anton Ficai
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ecaterina Andronescu
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Ariana Hudita
Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 077206 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Maria Holban
National Center of Micro and Nanomaterials, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Background: Cellulose derivatives are gaining much attention in medical research due to their excellent properties such as biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, non-toxicity, sustainability, and low cost. Unfortunately, cellulose does not exhibit antimicrobial activity. However, derivatives like hydroxyethyl cellulose represent a proper matrix to incorporate antimicrobial agents with beneficial therapeutic effects. Methods: Combining more antimicrobial agents into a single composite material can induce stronger antibacterial activity by synergism. Results: Therefore, we have obtained a hydroxyethyl-cellulose-based material loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles and cinnamon essential oil as the antimicrobial agents. The cinnamon essential oil was loaded in mesoporous silica particles to control its release. Conclusions: The composite films demonstrated high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains, impairing the bacterial cells’ viability and biofilm development. Such antimicrobial films can be used in various biomedical applications such as topical dressings or as packaging for the food industry.
