Functionalized polyvinyl alcohol derivatives thin films for controlled drug release and targeting systems: MAPLE deposition and morphological, chemical and in vitro characterization

We report thin film deposition of polyvinyl alcohol functionalized with carboxylic groups bound to aromatic nucleus (PVACOOH) by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation ( MAPLE). We used a KrF* excimer laser source (lambda = 248 nm, tau = 25 ns, nu = 5 Hz). The obtained thin films have been investigated by FTIR, AFM, and in vitro tests. We identified the best compromise between the parameters of laser processing and characteristics of nanostructured thin films of PVACOOH in terms of porosity and similar composition with those of starting material. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.