Particulate systems of PLA and its copolymers
Abstract Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and its copolymers are widely used in biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility and tunable physicochemical properties. Various delivery systems, such as depot, micelle, implant, injectable suspension, and particles have been explored with these copolymers ranging from nano to micron size. The clinical translation of these systems from preclinical experimental settings is an ever evolving field with incremental advancements. PLA and its copolymer based particulate system are well known for controlled delivery of various therapeutic molecules, including drugs, proteins, genes, and vaccines. They have marked their presence in the market for the treatment of various diseases. Despite continuous innovations in particulate formulation technology, these particles face many challenges, such as low encapsulation efficiency, termination sterilization, particle heterogeneity, etc. This chapter describes formulation aspects of poly(lactic acid) and its copolymer based particulate system, ongoing research in this area, and clinical products available on market. Existing challenges associated with formulation and delivery are also covered.