The current demand for new antimicrobial systems has stimulated research for the development of poly(lactic acid)/carvacrol (PLA/CAR)-based materials able to hinder the growth and spread of microorganisms. The eco-friendly characteristics of PLA and cytocompatibility make it very promising in the perspective of green chemistry applications as material for food and biomedical employments. The broad-spectrum biological and pharmacological properties of CAR, including antimicrobial activity, make it an interesting bioactive molecule that can be easily compounded with PLA by adopting the same techniques as those commonly used for PLA manufacturing. This review critically discusses the most common methods to incorporate CAR into a PLA matrix and their interference on the morphomechanical properties, release behavior, and antimicrobial activity of systems. The high potential of PLA/CAR materials in terms of chemical-physical and antimicrobial properties can be exploited for the future development of food packaging, coated medical devices, or drug delivery systems.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Carvacrol; Drug delivery; Food and biomedical application; PLA.