Biomedical applications of poly(lactic acid) electrospun nanofibers: A review

Polylactic acid (PLA) electrospun fibers are attractive due to their great potential in tissue engineering, drug release control and disposable medical supplies. However, there is still a lack of summary of research progress over the past decade. In this paper, we summarized the basic research on the regulation of the structure and morphology of PLA electrospinning fibers, as well as the application of PLA fibers in tissue engineering, drug controlled-release, and disposable medical supplies, and point out the advantages and challenges of PLA electrospun fibers in the field of biomedicine. In particular, the research progress of disposable medical supplies was reviewed for the first time. PLA can be electrospun alone or with other biocompatible polymers or inorganic materials. Moreover, the desired topology can be obtained by adjusting the electrospinning parameters to better meet biomedical requirements. By reading this paper, researchers in the field of materials science, biological science and medicine can learn about the work of others, leading to greater collaboration and better work in the near future, which will pave the way for mass production and large-scale application of PLA electrospun fibers.