**4. Conclusions**

In this work, a simple and rapid method to mimic the lotus leaf surface was developed and applied to the production of zein-based films. The licorice EO was also incorporated into the films as a bioactive agent. The zein films produced using the lotus negative template presented lotus-leaf-like rugosities, resulting in very hydrophobic surfaces (water contact angle of 112.50◦). The zein films with licorice essential oil are biodegradable and possess antioxidant and antibacterial properties against known foodborne pathogens, making them potential alternatives to the conventional plastics used in food packaging solutions, reducing environmental pollution and increasing the shelf-life of foods.

Future research is needed to identify ways to produce on a large scale films with the hierarchical surface morphology of the lotus leaf.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, A.R.; Formal analysis, F.D. and A.R.; Investigation, Â.L. and A.R.; Methodology, Â.L. and A.R.; Resources, F.D. and A.R.; Supervision, F.D.; Validation, Â.L., F.D. and A.R.; Writing—original draft, Â.L.; Writing—review & editing, F.D. and A.R.

**Funding:** Ângelo Luís acknowledges the contract of Scientific Employment in the scientific area of Microbiology financed by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT). This work was partially supported by CICS-UBI that is financed by National Funds from FCT (UID/Multi/00709/2019).

**Acknowledgments:** Authors acknowledge Carine Azevedo (Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra) for kindly providing the lotus leaves. The authors would also like to thank to Ana Paula Gomes from the Laboratório de Microscopia Eletrónica (Universidade da Beira Interior) for her help in SEM and DSC assays.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
