Natural products applied to antimicrobial coatings

Abstract

Coatings represent the most efficient way, considering cost/benefit ratio, to protect materials against environmental agents. Microorganisms are among the biotic deteriorating agents, they are ubiquitous in the environment and seek to colonize and grow on various surfaces as part of their life cycle. Not only materials are affected, microorganisms are also a major problem in human health especially when we refer to indoor environments such as offices, schools, as well as homes. In recent years, evidence accumulated indicates that contaminated environments play an important role in the transmission of infections, especially in hospitals. In this sense, natural products present a vast source of compounds with antimicrobial potentials to be applied as additives in paints and coatings technology.