Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia
https://app.periodikos.com.br/journal/polimeros/article/doi/10.1590/0104-1428.20250108
Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia
Original Article

Harnessing natural monoterpenes: cold plasma polymerization of citronellol

Erick Osvaldo Martínez-Ruiz; José Abraham González-López; Claudia Gabriela Cuellar-Gaona; María del Carmen Rodríguez-Aranda; Adán Reyes-Reyes; Juan Andrés Reyes-Reyes; Alejandra Ortiz-Dosal; María Esther Treviño-Martínez; María Guadalupe Neira-Velázquez

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-1428.20250108 Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia, vol.36, n3, e20260027, 2026
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Abstract

This study presents the cold plasma polymerization of citronellol, a natural monoterpene, as a route to obtain antibacterial polymeric films. A 10 µL volume of citronellol was polymerized under argon plasma at 100 Pa, yielding a solid film (Pcit). SEM analysis revealed a heterogeneous, branched surface with a roughness Ra of 7.53 ± 2.19 µm and Rz of 50.57 ± 24.26 µm. Water contact angle measurements indicated moderate hydrophilicity (62°). XPS and FTIR analyses confirmed the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups, while OES detected reactive carbon- and oxygen-containing species generated during plasma operation. Hemolysis tests showed excellent blood compatibility (<5%), and antimicrobial assays revealed inhibition zones of 12 ± 1 mm for E. coli and 10 ± 1 mm for S. aureus. Overall, these results indicate that plasma-polymerized citronellol yields functional surfaces with promising potential for biomedical and antibacterial applications.

 

 

Keywords

citronellol, cold plasma, green chemistry, monoterpenes, polymerization

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