POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) COATED WITH CHITOSAN AND CYCLOSPORINE A LAYERS AS A POTENTIAL STENT MATERIAL AND DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEM

The aim of this paper was to design, prepare and characterise chitosan (Ch) and cyclosporine A (CsA) mixed films deposited on a plasma-activated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer surface to be used as a cover for implantable blood vessel stents. The PET polymer coated with Ch and CsA layers was immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) to examine how the obtained layers can behave in the environment of human body fluids. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was employed to determine the chemical composition of the deposited films and to analyse the spatial distribution of molecules on the PET surface. The results showed the controlled release of CsA from the chitosan matrix. It can be concluded that the modification of the PET polymer with layers of chitosan and CsA has great application potential in the tissue engineering as a biocompatible stent of blood vessels with therapeutic properties.