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
biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties·Biomaterials·Materials Science·Physical Sciences
References
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- Cunha, A.; Gaubert, A.; Latxague, L.; Dehay, B. PLGA-Based Nanoparticles for Neuroprotective Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 1042. [CrossRef]
- 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]