title: Depth profiling of PLGA copolymer in a novel biomedical bilayer using confocal Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: Confocal Raman spectroscopy was undertaken to identify separate layers of PLGA and gentamicin sulfate (GS) coatings on a titanium alloy substrate for a novel drug-delivery system. Additionally, it was found that it was possible to measure the layer thickness and uniformity of the PLGA accurately by detecting intensity and wavelength changes in the vibrational bands of the copolymer bonds. Further analysis of the materials was done using FIB, SEM/EDX, and profilometry; these techniques were used to confirm the findings of the Raman data. It was determined that the substrate was extremely rough and therefore the coating was not uniform in thickness but the materials were uniformly dispersed. Most importantly, two distinct GS and PLGA layers were present.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colm
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McManamon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.forename: Jing Jing
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sozaraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasappa
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid