Antimicrobial plastic films against SARS‐COV‐2 and pathogenic bacteria

Abstract Polymeric films are used in numerous applications in the biomedical area. The incorporation of antimicrobial agents into these materials can prevent their surface from acting as a source of contamination of viruses and bacteria. In the present work, cinnamon and eucalyptus essential oils were incorporated into low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) by melt extrusion, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. For the success of incorporation, talc was used as an oil carrier and fixer. Despite high processing temperatures used (up to 175°C), the oleophilic character of talc was able to minimize oil losses, as proven by thermogravimetry. Good thermal and mechanical properties evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and tensile tests were confirmed. In addition, antimicrobial tests confirmed film activity against virus SARS‐CoV‐2 and bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . LDPE films incorporated with both oils showed significant antiviral properties against SARS‐CoV‐2, with viral titers reduction between 95.89% and 100%. Cinnamon oil showed more efficient antibacterial properties than eucalyptus oil, with relative bacterial growths of films next to zero (0.37% for E. coli and 2.07% for S. aureus ). To the best of our knowledge, no previous work has developed plastic films incorporated with essential oils with confirmed antiviral properties against SARS‐CoV‐2.