Fluorinated polymer coatings on PLGA microcapsules for drug delivery system using atmospheric pressure glow plasma

Abstract PLGA microcapsule developed as a drug delivery system (slow release speed of medicines) material has, however, a problem, that is the initial burst release of medicine because of water penetrating into the PLGA capsules. To prevent water penetration, the fluorinated layer formation on the PLGA surface by atmospheric pressure glow plasma was examined. We tried to use CF4/He plasma and C3F6/He plasma treatments for the formation. The C3F6/He plasma 7 times treated ones showed the worse initial burst release because this treatment destroyed the PLGA capsules by its excessive treatment time. On the contrary, since the C3F6/He plasma 5 times treatment could make the PLGA capsule surface enough hydrophobic, they had no initial burst release and the slow release speed.