Hydrolysis of PLA-like Plasma Polymer Films with Varying Degree of Crosslinking

Abstract

<p>Poly-lactide acid (PLA) based biodegradable films are of interest for packaging materials or bioapplications. Plasma-assisted vacuum evaporation technique uses oligomers released during thermal decomposition of source polymer as precursors for plasma polymerization. Conventionally prepared PLA with <em>mw</em> = 10000 g/mol was used as a source polymer. Films were prepared at various RF (13.56 MHz) plasma powers (0-20 W) in order to vary the amount of crosslinking in the film.</p><p>Swelling and hydrolysis of films were monitored in real time using spectroscopic ellipsometry. The concentration profile of products of hydrolysis was measured by liquid-chromatography (LC-MS). FTIR, XPS and SEM analyses were used for monitoring of film composition and surface characterization. Molecular weights of source polymer and of the plasma polymer were determined by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). Possibility to prepare PLA-like plasma polymer films with controlled degradability by hydrolysis was demonstrated.</p>

Degradable plasma polymer films with tailored hydrolysis behavior

“…In this way, it is possible to produce plasma polymers that bridge the limits of classical polymers and plasma polymers [31,32]. In this way various properties of the films can be controlled, including those based on PLA [33,34]. This study was focused mainly on covering a broader range of deposition conditions.…”

Polyester Urethane (Pla/Peg) Polymer Based Films Prepared by Plasma Assisted Vapour Thermal Deposition

“…Plasma assisted vacuum thermal deposition utilizes oligomers that are released during a source polymer thermal decomposition into the gas phase. Due to the glow discharge, these oligomer species undergo plasma polymerization leading to the preparation of thin films with tuneable properties [3][4][5][6].…”

Nanostructured Films of Plasma Polymerized Hexamethyldisilazane and Lactic Acid Deposited by Atmospheric Plasma Jet

“…(Bio)degradable polymers, like polyethylene oxide and polylactic acid, are used in biomedical field [1], food industry, packaging or medicine [2]. For such applications, preparation of these materials in the form of thin films with controlled properties via plasma-based methods was found viable [3] [4], including deposition in atmospheric pressure plasma [5].…”