Chitosan-based materials as templates for essential oils

Chitosan’s biodegradability, biocompatibility, low toxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity give it great potential in medical, cosmetic, and food industries, among others. These intrinsic properties make the biopolymer an interesting alternative to the widespread synthetic polymers that can potentially have negative impacts on health and the marine environment. On the other hand, essential oils are one of the most important products of the agricultural industry. They are a complex mixture of low-molecular-weight compounds extracted from plants such as seeds, flowers, peels, barks, and fruits. Thanks to their bioactive properties, namely antioxidant and antimicrobial, essential oils can be used as bioactive agents in chitosan-based materials to reinforce the final bioactive properties of the materials. This chapter reports the most recent and relevant studies concerning the use of chitosan as templates, in the form of films, capsules, coatings, gels, and emulsions, of essential oils. The effect of this on bioactivity, especially antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, in the final materials and applications are also discussed.