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We report on the loading and release of curcumin (a hydrophobic polyphenol with anti-inflammatory andanti-bacterial properties) from polyelectrolyte multilayers composed of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). We have used the in situ techniques of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) to study the formation of the PEM and the incorporation of curcumin, providing direct evidence of the incorporation, in terms of molecular vibrations and gravimetric detection. The release of curcumin was followed using ex situ measurements of UV-visible spectroscopy of PEM films on quartz plates, in addition to in situ ATR FTIR measurements. Release was studied as a function of salt concentration of the release solution (0.001 M NaCl; 1 M NaCl). UV-visible spectroscopy indicated that salt concentration of the release solution had a major impact on release rates, with higher salt giving faster/more extensive release. However, prolonged timescale immersion and monitoring with UV-visible spectroscopy indicated that sample dehydration/rehydration cycling (required to measure UV absorbance) was responsible for there lease of curcumin, rather than immersion time. In situ measurements of release kinetics with ATR FTIR confirmed that release does not occur spontaneously while the multilayer remains hydrated. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

During the terminal phase, access to medicines is critical for people wishing to spend their last days of life at home. Yet, access to medicines can be problematic. The aim of this study was to report the perspectives of specialist and generalist health professionals (HPs) on the issues of community access to medicines for this vulnerable group. A qualitative descriptive study design investigated the views of HPs working in palliative care roles in South Australia. Nurses, doctors and pharmacists described their experiences of accessing medicines for management of terminal phase symptoms during semi-structured focus group discussions. Content analysis identified six themes including: 'Medication Supply', 'Education and Training', 'Caregiver Burden', 'Safety', 'Funding' and 'Clinical Governance'. Future projects should aim to address these themes when developing strategies for the management of people wishing to die at home. Refereed/Peer-reviewed