Preparation of Cinnamon Oil‐Loaded Antibacterial Composite Microcapsules by In Situ Polymerization of Pickering Emulsion Templates

Abstract In this study, the cinnamon oil (CMO)‐loaded antibacterial composite microcapsules with silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )/poly(melamine formaldehyde) (PMF) hybrid shells are effectively and facilely constructed by in situ polymerization of SiO 2 nanoparticle–stabilized Pickering emulsion templates. The morphological structure, composition, and thermal performance of the microcapsules are determined by scanning electronic microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. In addition, in vitro CMO release and antimicrobial investigations of the microcapsules are also performed, respectively. The results demonstrate that the microcapsules own an approximately spherical shape with a core–shell structure. Moreover, the micro‐encapsulation of CMO clearly increases its thermal stability, and meanwhile results in obtaining microcapsules with the controlled CMO release and visibly long‐term antimicrobial effects. All the results show that in situ polymerization based on templating Pickering emulsions is an attractive method to construct antibacterial essential oil–loaded microcapsules, which can be served as promising antibacterial materials.