Processing and immobilization of chondroitin-4-sulphate by UV laser radiation

Chondroitin-4-sulphate (ChS A) was immobilized by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) with the aid of a UV KrF* excimer laser source. Distilled water was used as solvent for the preparation of the frozen composite MAPLE targets. The surface morphology, chemical structure and functional properties of laser transferred ChS A were investigated as a function of laser processing conditions. The results indicate that the amount of laser immobilized material, structure, and functional properties can be controlled by the laser fluence value used for the irradiation of the MAPLE targets. Under selected irradiation conditions besides the molecular structure, the functional properties of the laser processed ChS A molecules can be maintained.