From Fabrication to Function: Scalable Spray-Assisted Layer-by-Layer Films for Drug Delivery in Glaucoma

<jats:p>Glaucoma drainage device (GDD) surgery is frequently limited by postoperative fibro-blast proliferation, leading to device failure and the need for revision procedures. In this work, we developed a spray-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) drug delivery system for GDD surfaces that enables localized release of antiproliferative agents, aiming to standardize patient care. Multilayer thin films composed of poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) and a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complex (5-FU:β-CD) were fabricated, without (type A films) and with (type B films) graphene oxide (GO) barrier layers. Film growth was monitored by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy (VUV), confirming consistent, sequential deposition; type A films exhibited greater reproducibility than GO-containing type B films. Drug release studies revealed a rapid burst release within the first 5 min, fol-lowed by a plateau, regardless of GO incorporation. Cell cycle analysis confirmed that β-CD complexation preserved the biological activity of 5-FU, which induced an S-phase arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Although further optimization of film archi-tecture and composition is required to achieve sustained release, this study demon-strates the feasibility of spray-assisted LbL coatings as a localized drug delivery strate-gy for GDD surfaces. Overall, these findings establish a promising platform for the fu-ture development of more effective and standardized coatings for glaucoma surgical devices.</jats:p>