journal article·2026-01

The incorporation of thymol and carvacrol in bentonites: Influence of functionalization and the resulting antibacterial activities

Luís H. Oliveira, Idglan S. de Lima, Denise B. França, Albert S. Silva, Santiago Medina-Carrasco, Maria del Mar Orta, Josy A. Osajima, Maria G. Fonseca, Edson C. da Silva-Filho

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Abstract

Incorporating essential oils or their components into inorganic matrices has been used as a strategy to slow release of these species, reducing the rapid volatility of the oils. Thymol and carvacrol are among the essential oil components that have diverse bioactivities. This study evaluated the incorporation of thymol and carvacrol in sodium bentonite (Na-Bent) and bentonite functionalized with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (NH 2-Bent). The systems were characterized by short- and long-range structural, morphological, and thermal techniques. The agar diffusion test evaluated the antibacterial activity of the hybrids against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the intercalation of silane into clay and the formation of intercalation hybrids of oils in both matrices. 29Si NMR suggested covalently immobilization of the silane on clay surface. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance ( 13C NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra indicated the presence of oils in clays and the contribution of hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals force between the species. The maximum incorporation of the compounds occurred in the silylated sample, resulting in 2.14 and 2.40 mmol g -1 for thymol and carvacrol, respectively. The silylated samples also presented a slower release profile of thymol and carvacrol compared to the Na-Bent sample. The antibacterial action that resulted in inhibition diameters was more significant than that of the positive control. The promising data also included the controlled release of thymol and carvacrol, resulting in the antibacterial action of the hybrids.
Source: expertdata · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Clay minerals and soil interactions · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Soil and Unsaturated Flow

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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