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Zhong, J. PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61166 (accessed on 09 November 2026).
Zhong J. PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61166. Accessed November 09, 2026.
Zhong, Jack. "PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid))" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61166 (accessed November 09, 2026).
Zhong, J. (2026, October 20). PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)). In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61166
Zhong, Jack. "PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid))." Encyclopedia. Web. 20 October, 2026.

PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid))

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PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) is a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid, and it is the most widely used biodegradable polymer for parenteral drug delivery. Its ester backbone hydrolyses in water, and the degradation products, lactic and glycolic acid, enter normal metabolic pathways [1]. The copolymer ratio controls the crystallinity and the degradation rate: a higher glycolic acid fraction gives a faster degradation and a shorter release period [2]. Nanoparticles and microspheres are prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation, and the size distribution and the encapsulation efficiency depend on the solvent, the stabiliser, and the shear applied [3]. The acidic products accumulate inside a large implant and catalyse further hydrolysis, which is observed as a bimodal release profile [4]. Sterilisation by gamma radiation can shorten the chains and change the degradation rate, and this effect is often overlooked [5].

lactic acid glycolic acid copolymer ratio hydrolytic degradation microsphere encapsulation efficiency autocatalysis
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References

  1. Singh; Singha, P. Effect of Modifications in Poly (Lactide-co-Glycolide) (PLGA) on Drug Release and Degradation Characteristics: A Mini Review. Current Drug Delivery 2021, 18, 1378-1390. [CrossRef]
  2. Liu, G.; McEnnis, K. Glass Transition Temperature of PLGA Particles and the Influence on Drug Delivery Applications. Polymers 2022, 14, 993. [CrossRef]
  3. Jia, Z.; Ma, C.; Zhang, H. PLGA Coatings and PLGA Drug-Loading Coatings for Cardiac Stent Samples: Degradation Characteristics and Blood Compatibility. Coatings 2021, 11, 1427. [CrossRef]
  4. Cunha, A.; Gaubert, A.; Latxague, L.; Dehay, B. PLGA-Based Nanoparticles for Neuroprotective Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 1042. [CrossRef]
  5. Sydow, S.; Aniol, A.; Hadler, C.; Menzel, H. Chitosan–Azide Nanoparticle Coating as a Degradation Barrier in Multilayered Polyelectrolyte Drug Delivery Systems. Biomolecules 2019, 9, 573. [CrossRef]
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Subjects: Materials Science, Biomaterials
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Jack Zhong
View Times: 13
Entry Collection: Polymer Concepts
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 23 Oct 2026
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