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    Nanoscale Surface Patterns from 103 Single Molecule Helices of Biodegradable Poly(l-lactic acid)

    Year: 2006

    Journal: Langmuir, 2006, 22 (14), pp 5969–5973, 20111221

    Authors: Suolong Ni, Wen Yin, Melinda K. Ferguson-McPherson, Sushil K. Satija, John R. Morris, and Alan R. Esker

    Organizations: Department of Chemistry (0212), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, and Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899

    Atomic force microscopy, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray reflectivity studies reveal that poly(l-lactic acid) molecules in Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) films exist as 103 helices over nearly the entire length of the polymer chain. This feature gives rise to LB films with highly ordered nanoscale smectic liquid crystalline-like surface patterns with low surface roughness and lamellar spacings that scale with molar mass. These studies provide a new approach for controlling surface morphology with a biodegradable polymer commonly used for drug delivery and tissue engineering.