Polylactic acid biomedical applications

AVE 13] Averous L., Borreton M.E., et al, 9, Synthesis, properties, environmental and biomedical applications of polylactic acid . Handbook of Biopolymers and Biodegradable Plastics, William Andrew IhibUshing, Boston, MA, pp. 171-188,2013. 

Bioabsorbable polymers such as aliphatic polyesters from the poly ((z-hydroxy acids) family, especially polylactic acid (PLA), are well known bioabsorbable materials and are widely used for biomedical applications... 

Biodegradable polymers or bioplastics are extensively used in packaging, gardening, or for disposable catering articles. In 1966 Kulkami et al. reported the biodegradability of polylactic acid (PLA) in the human body [18]. Due to their long-term degradability, bioplastics are under extensive research for biomedical applications. Particular focus was put on PLA as it is used as a feedstock in 3D printers. Therefore, it was seen as... 

Although several synthetic polymers have been reported to be electrospun successfully and tested with different animal cells, not all of them were approved by FDA as safe biomaterials for biomedical applications. The most commonly known ones are polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and their copolymer polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) (Teo and Ramakrishna 2006). 

M. Shah Mohammadi, M.N. Bureau, and S.N. Nazhat, Polylactic acid (PLA) biomedical foams for tissue engineering, in Biomedical Foams for Tissue Engineering Applications, PA. Netti, Ed., 2014, Woodhead Publishing. Chap 11,313-334. 

Polylactic acid is a popular material in various biomedical applications, such as dmg delivery, sutures and orthopedic devices. In the body, PLA is hydrolyzed to its monomeric form, lactic acid, which is then eliminated by incorporation into the Kreb s cycle. Cargill-Dow LLC is producing PLA to the tune of 140kt annually in Blair, Nebraska, USA. Their primary application is the production of fibers through melt-spinning for clothing. Other applications include food packaging such as thermoformed containers and pop bottles. The monomer, lactic acid, has the potential to become a new bio-based material from which other chemicals (acrylic acid, propylene oxide, ethyl lactate) can be synthesized. 

---