Fabrication of epoxy sustained-release coatings loaded with urushiol microcapsules containing essential oil for inhibition on drug-resistant Helicobacter pylori and Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, the essential oil loading microcapsules (E-UMs) of the urushiol microcapsules (UMs) as shell material containing essential oil (EO) as core material were prepared by in-situ polymerization technology, where for the first time the E-UMs acted as bacteriostatic agent, for end use in long-term antibacterial coating. The results showed that high core content of EO in E-UMs was up to 30 wt%, release rate was less than 1.87% after 6 h at 100 degrees C and a char residue of 19 wt% at 400 degrees C after thermal degradation. The mean diameter of three saturations (omega = 1, 2, 3) of E-UMs was about (15, 43 and 69) mu m, respectively, and all E-UMs were spherical shape-like. Similarly, the diameter of UMs formed by concentrated urushiol was between 7 and 74 mu m. The release of EO from E-UMs showed a sustained-release effect under different storage temperatures (25, 100 and 150 degrees C). Specifically, by adding low content of E-UMs (10 wt%), the functionalization of epoxy coatings loaded with E-UMs (E-UMs@ER) were obtained, and played an important role in inhibiting the proliferation of drug resistant Helicobacter pylori and resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the medium of the final coatings. The results of this article contributed to the foundation and application of urushiol microcapsules.

Automated summary

In this study, essential oil loading microcapsules (E-UMs) were successfully prepared with high core content, low release rate, good thermal performance, and antibacterial effect. The application of E-UMs in epoxy coatings can effectively inhibit the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria.