FTIR study of polycaprolactone chain organization at interfaces

Polycaprolactone (PCL), extensively known as a biomaterial, is the subject of this paper. Knowing well that some biomaterial applications exhibit specific chain organization, we focused our study on the orientation of PCL chains when this polymer is adsorbed (spin-coated) on inert substrates such as gold-coated glass slides. The main technique allowing adsorbed thin films analysis that we chose is polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), which permits qualitative and quantitative determination of chain anisotropy in the confined layers at the interface. Based on our spectroscopic results, we achieved an adsorption model of PCL chains and we calculated orientation angles with respect to the substrate normal. Calculated values show a quasi-perpendicular deposition of PCL chains on the gold substrate. Moreover. PCL thin films remain highly crystalline, a fact which could be the basis of the important anisotropy of PCL chains. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.