Resonant infrared pulsed laser deposition of thin biodegradable polymer films

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 123 - 125
• Main Authors: BUBB, D. M, TOFTMANN, B, HAGLUND, R. F, HORWITZ, J. S, PAPANTONAKIS, M. R, MCGILL, R. A, WU, P. W, CHRISEY, D. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 2002
• Subjects: Absorbance; Applied sciences; Biodegradability; Deposition; Exact sciences and technology; Infrared; Machinery and processing; Miscellaneous; Plastics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymeric films; Pulsed laser deposition; Strategy; Technology of polymers; Thin films; Glycolic acid copolymer; Ester copolymer; Infrared laser; Lactic acid copolymer; Pulsed laser deposition; Experimental study; Resonant process; Aliphatic copolymer; Thin film; Deposition process
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s003390101010

Thin films of the biodegradable polymer poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were deposited using resonant infrared pulsed laser deposition (RIR-PLD). The output of a free-electron laser was focused onto a solid target of the polymer, and the films were deposited using 2.90 (resonant with O-H stretch) and 3.40 (C-H) *mm light at macropulse fluences of 7.8 and 6.7 J/cm, respectively. Under these conditions, a 0.5-*mm thick film can be grown in less than 5 min. Film structure was determined from infrared absorbance measurements and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). While the infrared absorbance spectrum of the films is nearly identical with that of the native polymer, the average molecular weight of the films is a little less than half that of the starting material. Potential strategies for defeating this mass change are discussed.