Polyesters Polyflactic acid

Biodegradable polymer blends of polyanhydrides and polyesters have been used as drug carriers [59], Polyflactic acid) (PLA), polyfhydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and poly(caprolactone) (PCL), of 2000 and 50000 molecular weights were mixed with poly(sebacic anhydride) (PSA), and the properties of these mixtures were studied. Mixtures of PHB and low molecular weight PLA or PCL formed uniform blends with various amounts of PSA. These blends possess different physical and mechanical properties compared to the parent polymers. The release rate of drugs from these polymeric blends increases with the increase in the content of the rapidly degrading component, PSA. 

Aliphatic polyesters Poly(L-lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), PLGA co-pol3Tners Polyfglycolic acid), polyflactic acid), and their co-polymers are the most widely used synthetic degradable polymers in medicine. 

Figure 21.9 The biodegradable polyester family poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA), poly(hydroxybulyrate) (PHB), poly(hydro3qdiexanoate) (PHH), poly(hydrox3rvalerate] (PHV), polyflactic acid) (PLA), poly(caprolactone) fPCL), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene succinate adipate) (PBSA), aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters (AAC), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(butylene adipate/terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(methylene adipate/terephthalate) (PTMAT). Adapted from [103].

Polymers in the group of polyesters, specifically the family of polyflactic acid) (PLA), polyfglycolic acid) (PGA), and copolymers of lactic and glycolic acids (PLGAs), as well as poly(P-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) most closely fulfilled the criteria outlined above, including biocompatibility, processability, and controlled degradation [8]. These polymers, many descendant of absorbable suture materials developed a couple of decades ago, were approved for in vivo use by the Food... 

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