Coating of Polypropylene Non-Woven Fabric with Layered Double Hydroxides Bearing Antioxidant and Antibacterial Natural Compounds

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing immobilized rosmarinic acid or eugenol have been employed to functionalize polypropylene (PP) non-woven fabric (NWF), commonly used to manufacture protective clothing such as surgical masks. Rosmarinic acid and eugenol have recognized biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, and they have been employed in this work both as synthetic, commercial compounds and as raw mixtures extracted from agri-food matrices. These encapsulated hybrid systems have been designed to gradually release the active molecules while protecting them from degradation processes caused by light and heat. Two different NWF modification strategies have been employed to increase the adhesion capacity of the hybrids: cold plasma treatment with oxygen and polydopamine coating. Both methodologies have increased the amount of hybrid deposited on the NWF surfaces, giving significant resistance to thermo-oxidation, the controlled migratory capacity of active molecules, and, in the case of the eugenol-containing system, significant bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus.