Biodegradable poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microcapsules: problems associated with preparative...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Poly(lactic acid) [PLA] and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA] are established biodegradable and biocompatible polymers.
• These polymers exhibit suitable physico-chemical and biological properties for in vivo drug release over extended periods (days to months).
• PLA and PLGA polymers are frequently utilized in parenteral dosage forms, particularly for controlled drug delivery applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges associated with various microencapsulation techniques for PLA and PLGA polymers.
• To provide an overview of in vitro and in vivo drug release from microcapsules formulated with these polymers.
• To address the limited literature on PLA/PLGA microcapsule preparation and characterization.

Main Methods:

• Review of traditional and non-traditional microencapsulation techniques.
• Analysis of polymer synthesis and batch reproducibility issues.
• Examination of drug release studies (in vitro and in vivo).

Main Results:

• Microencapsulation is a common technique for incorporating diverse core materials (proteins, drugs) into PLA/PLGA matrices.
• Challenges exist in the reproducible synthesis and characterization of PLA/PLGA polymers for microencapsulation.
• Published data on PLA/PLGA microencapsulation methods and drug release profiles are limited.

Conclusions:

• PLA and PLGA are versatile polymers for developing microencapsulated drug delivery systems.
• Addressing synthesis and characterization challenges is crucial for advancing PLA/PLGA microencapsulation.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the potential of these polymers in drug delivery.