Study of the Sustained Release of the Thymus Fontanesii Boiss & Reut (Thyme) Essential Oil Stored In Modified Bentonite Supported on PVA for the Treatment of Bedsores

The aim of this work is to develop a system with antiseptic activity capable of being active for a long time while releasing a constant, well-defined quantity. The system consists of the essential oil of Thymus fontanesii (thyme) incorporated in hydrophilic sodium montmorillonite and organophilic sodium montmorillonite respectively, and immobilized on polyvinyl alcohol as a polymeric support. The essential oil of thyme harvested in 2023, extracted by hydrodistillation using a clevenger with a yield of 2%, is essentially composed of thymol (%) and exhibits very marked antibacterial activities. The incorporation of the extracted essential oil into the sodium montmorillonite, as well as that modified by insertion of a hydrophobic group via reaction with CTAB, is clearly visible and identifiable on the FTIR spectra. The dispersion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic montmorillonite particles containing thyme essential oil on polyninyl alcohol is confirmed by FTIR and UV-Vis spectra. Monitoring of the release of Thymus fontanesii essential oil stored on montmorillonite particles fixed on polyvinyl alcohol in a skin-like atmosphere is optimal, and on the other hand antimicrobial tests justify their use as antiseptics.