Pharmaceutical Application of Biodegradable Polyesters

The usefulness of PLGA-PEG copolymers or PEGylated PLGA has been reported for the improved delivery of anticancer agents such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel and safe delivery of genes.  

Davaran et al. have synthesized cyclodextrin-based star-shaped polyesters bearing PLGA side chains, which are covalently attached via the hydroxyl groups in cyclodextrin. They have demonstrated that such copolymers can be used for sustained delivery of peptides such as insulin and anti-cancer drugs. 

Besides, dextran-graft-poly(L-lactide) (Dex-g-PLLA) and dextran-graft-poly(D-lactide) (Dex-g-PDLA) amphiphilic copolymers have been synthesized with well-defined compositions in a dilute aqueous solution. Such a system displayed tuneable degradation properties by varying the number of grafted PLA chains as well as applying stereocomplexation. 

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