PLGA delivery systems

Schwendeman, S. P. (2002), Recent advances in the stabilization of proteins encapsulated in injectable PLGA delivery systems, Crit. Rev. Therap. Drug Carrier Syst., 19, 73-98. 

Based on these limitations, only a limited number of drug delivery systems based on biodegradable polymers have so far been successfully commercialized. One example is Lupron Depot one-month injectable microspheres of PLGA containing leuprorelin acetate (LH-RH agonist) for the treatment of endometriosis and prostatic cancer [31,32]. 

This is a method to obtain colloidal drug delivery systems from preformed, well-defined macromolecular materials with known physicochemical and biological properties. Biodegradable nanoparticles from PLA, PLG, PLGA, and poly(E-caprolactone) have been prepared by dispersing the polymers (Vauthier et al. 1991 Couvreur et al. 1995). 

The Lupron Depot comprises a PLA/PLGA microsphere delivery system for the delivery of the GnRH analog, leuprolide, over a 1-, 3-, or 4-month period. The release rate is determined by the polymer composition and molecular weight (Table 4.5). 

---