POLY(LACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC ACID) (PLGA)

PLGA is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic synthetic polymer. Its therapeutic applications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Europe the European Medicines Agency (EMA). One advantage of PLGA copolymers is that their properties can be engineered to achieve desired characteristics. PLGA is a copolymer of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA). By altering the ratio of lactic and glycolic acids in PLGA, different physical and chemical properties can be obtained.

PLGA is frequently preferred as a polymer due to its advantages of being inert in physiological environments, biodegradable, biocompatible, and capable of degrading into non-toxic products such as.

Monomer Ratios

Monomer ratios influence solubility, crystallinity, and the duration of biodegradation. Solubility: PLGA with less than 50% glycolic acid can be dissolved in common solvents such as chloroform, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and acetone, whereas a glycolic acid content exceeding 50% requires less common solvents such as hexafluoroisopropanol.

Crystallinity

PLGA copolymers containing less than 70% PGA monomer are amorphous in structure.

Degradation Time

The PGA monomer is hydrophilic and readily dissolves under physiological conditions, whereas the hydrophobic nature of the PLA monomer reduces the rate of biodegradation cell.