Investigation of multilayered polyelectrolyte thin films by means of refractive index measurements, FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM

Multilayered polyelectrolyte films are promising structures in the biomedical field. In order to meet the demands for biomedical applications, the structures have to be built from biocompatible and/or biodegradable, nontoxic starting materials, possessing some specific functional properties, depending on the particular application. In the present study, the multilayered polyelectrolyte films with potential use as buccal bioadhesive drug delivery systems were investigated. They were prepared via layer-by-layer deposition of successive nanolayers onto substrate. Three different biopolymers were used. The substrate, from poly(lactic acid), was solvent casted. After that, it was subjected to corona treatment, which ensures surface charge excess for the multilayer deposition. The nanolayers were prepared either from 0.01 g/L solutions of chitosan or 0.05 g/L xanthan. Acetate buffer (pH 4.5 and ionic strength 1 M) was used as a solvent. The substrate was dipped successively into one of the solutions, allowing formation of polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan (polycation) and xanthan (polyanion). The substrates was treated in negative corona. The multilayered structures consisted of 8, 9, 14, 15 or 20 nanolayers. Number of techniques, such refractive index measurements, FT- IR spectroscopy and SEM morphology were employed in order to monitor the properties of the so prepared multilayered polyelectrolyte films.