Aerosol-assisted open-air plasma deposition of acrylate-based composite coatings: Molecule release control through precursor selection

Aerosol-assisted open-air plasma allows the direct deposition of composite coatings with embedded bioactive agents. However, the deposition of biodegradable coatings for controlled drug release application remains challenging. In this study, an innovative precursor injection strategy is used to entrap tracers in coatings deposited from various acrylate-based precursors: Acrylic acid (AA), methacrylic anhydride (MA), and 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA). Water immersion tests show dramatically different release kinetics ranging from over minutes to weeks and months for AA, MA, and BDDA, respectively. These different behaviors are correlated to the crosslinking degree and the hydrolysis rates of the crosslinking functions. This original approach allows controlled release of tracers entrapped in biodegradable acrylate-based coatings and provides new insights for drug-release application.