Aerosol assisted atmopheric pressure PE-CVD of drug containing nano-capsules.

In this review an overview is given on bio-composite coatings, their applications and the plasma-based processes for their deposition. In particular the innovative possibility to deposit, via Aerosol-Assisted Atmospheric Pressure plasma, drug containing nano-capsules in a one-step process is described. Several applications of this peculiar bio-composite material have been examined, with different molecules embedded in the same polyethylene-like matrix: vancomycin, gentamicin and lysozyme. In conclusion a hypothesis on the formation mechanisms of the nano-capsules is proposed which could be very interesting for numerous potential applications.