PLGA – the smart polymer for drug delivery

Abstract

Polymers have become an integral part of novel drug delivery system. One such successful biodegradable polymer is poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) which consists of polyesters of lactic acid and glycolic acid. It is one of the FDA-approved biodegradable polymers which is extensively used for therapeutic purposes in recent times. The aim. To illuminate researchers on the chemistry, novel properties and applications of PLGA in pharmaceutical fields. Materials and methods. Various internet sources like Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and google scholar were used as the data source. The key words search was carried out for the following words and combinations: PLGA, Novel drug delivery, PLGA Nano particles, biomedical applications of PLGA. Results. Pharmaceutical and biomedical industries are flooded with the use of synthetic and natural polymers. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the polymers make them suitable for the temporal and spatial delivery of therapeutic agents for an extended period. Employment of copolymerization techniques lead to the modification of water solubility of the polymers and make them suitable for various applications of drug delivery systems. Biodegradable polymers due to their biocompatibility and biodegradable property have attracted their use in novel drug delivery systems. PLGA is one of them. PLGA is versatile as it can be fabricated into any size, shape, and can be used to encapsulate small molecules, tissue engineering, and bone repair, etc. Conclusion. The sensitivity and biodegradability of PLGA makes it a smart polymer for targeted and sustained delivery of drugs and in various biomedical applications.