In this work, we report the synthesis of functional biocompatible piezoelectric (1 - x)Ba(TiZr)TiO-x(BaCa)TiO, x = 0.45 (BCZT45), thin films with high piezoelectric properties. Pulsed-laser-based techniques, classical pulsed-laser deposition and matrix-assisted pulsed-laser evaporation, were used to synthesize the BCZT45 thin films. The second technique was employed in order to ensure growth on polymer flexible Kapton substrates. The BCZT45 thin films grown by both techniques show similar structural properties and high piezoelectric coefficient coupling between the mechanical loading and electrical potential. While it has long been shown that the electrical potential favors biological processes like osteogenesis, the assessment of cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation onto BCZT materials has not yet been demonstrated. We prove here for the first time that BCZT 45 coatings on Kapton polymer substrates provide optimal support for osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow.

We report on the fabrication of shellac thin films on silicon substrates by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) using methanol as matrix. Very adherent, dense, and smooth films were obtained by MAPLE with optimized deposition parameters, such as laser wavelength and laser fluence. Films with a root mean square (RMS) roughness of 11 nm measured on 40 × 40 µm 2 were obtained for a 2000-nm-thick shellac film deposited with 0.6 J/cm 2 fluence at a laser wavelength of 266 nm. The MAPLE films were tested in simulated gastric fluid in order to assess their capabilities as an enteric coating. The chemical, morphological, and optical properties of shellac samples were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Author Contributions: Investigation, S.B.; Formal Analysis, A.B. and V.M.; Conceptualization, A.M.; Supervision, B.M.; Writing-Review & Editing, A.M., B.M., S.B., A.B. and V.M. Conflicts of Interest:The authors declare no conflict of interest. Author Contributions: Investigation, S.B.; Formal Analysis, A.B. and V.M.; Conceptualization, A.M.; Supervision, B.M.; Writing-Review & Editing, A.M., B.M., S.B., A.B. and V.M.

In this work we report on the deposition of UV resistant shellac thin films by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE). The films obtained starting from a solution of 1-2 wt% shellac in methanol were very smooth and their chemical structure was preserved after the laser transfer. Upon short exposure time (u to 60 min), UV irradiation did not induce significant modifications in the films composition and surface appearance, while upon increasing the irradiation time (240 min) an esterification process of shellac can be observed.

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