Deposition of biodegradable polycaprolactone coatings using an in-line atmospheric pressure plasma system

Abstract

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable and bioresorbable polymer with applications ranging from use in packaging to medical sutures. In this study, the use of an atmospheric pressure plasma to deposit plasma polymerised PCL (P-PCL) coatings from a PCL diol precursor is evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated the retention of PCL functional groups in the deposited coating. Changes in coating surface energy were monitored with time after deposition using the contact angle technique. The rate of degradation of 500 nm thick P-PCL coatings was assessed after immersion in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37°C. It was observed that slower rates of P-PCL coating degradation were obtained for coatings deposited at higher applied powers and lower precursor flow rates. © 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.