Theoretical and Natural Science

- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences


Theoretical and Natural Science

Vol. 23, 20 December 2023


Open Access | Article

Exploring the utilization of polylactic acid-based materials in medicine: Contemporary innovations and trends

Junhua Zhang * 1
1 University College London

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Theoretical and Natural Science, Vol. 23, 52-57
Published 20 December 2023. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by EWA Publishing
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Citation Junhua Zhang. Exploring the utilization of polylactic acid-based materials in medicine: Contemporary innovations and trends. TNS (2023) Vol. 23: 52-57. DOI: 10.54254/2753-8818/23/20231021.

Abstract

A biocompatible, non-toxic substance is polylactic acid (PLA), which is also biodegradable. This material has been studied for decades and has been commercially used in some fields. The potential of defined PLA for different medical applications, including drug delivery systems, wound healing, bone implants, and vascular grafts, was described in this paper. Various methods of characterization and modification of PLA have been investigated to optimize its properties for specific applications. Typically, additional polymers are introduced into PLA to enhance its functional properties. The key feature of PLA is its capacity for degradation in the human body without introducing harmful byproducts. Adjustments to PLA composition can control degradation rates, influencing drug delivery or the persistence of implants. By applying a cold plasma treatment in order to alter the PLA-based polymer's surface, the capacity of the material to transport drugs may be changed. The change of parameters in coaxial electrospinning can produce different PLA-based products for different use. However, certain challenges remain, such as improving the adhesion of PLA and production of low-price PLA.

Keywords

polylactic acid, drug delivery, wound healing, implant, vascular graft

References

1. da Silva D., Kaduri M., Poley M., et al. (2018) Biocompatibility, biodegradation and excretion of polylactic acid (PLA) in medical implants and theranostic systems. Chemical Engineering Journal, 340: 9-14.

2. Politov A. A., Ilash D. A., Lenchankova L. E., et al. (2020) Study of initial gelation of hybrid materials comprising synthetic and natural polymers. Materials Today: Proceedings, 25: 487-489.

3. Stoleru E., Hitruc E. G., Vasile C., Oprică L. (2017) Biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)/chitosan stratified composites in presence of the Phanerochaete chrysosporium fungus. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 143: 118-129.

4. Vogel C., Siesler H. W. (2008) Thermal Degradation of Poly(e-caprolactone),Poly(L-lactic acid) and their Blends withPoly(3-hydroxy-butyrate) Studied byTGA/FT-IR Spectroscopy. Macromolecular Symposia, 265: 183-194.

5. Fearghail1 F. Ó, Behan P., Engström N., Scheers N. (2021) A LCMS Metabolomic Workflow to Investigate Metabolic Patterns in Human Intestinal Cells Exposed to Hydrolyzed Crab Waste Materials. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 9: 629083.

6. Anderson J. M., Shive M. S. (2012) Biodegradation and biocompatibility of PLA and PLGA microspheres. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 64: 72-82.

7. Li, G., Zhao, M., Xu, F., Yang, B., Li, X., Meng, X., & Teng, L. (2020). Synthesis and biological application of polylactic acid. Molecules, 25(21): 5023.

8. Pizzicannella, J., Diomede, F., Gugliandolo, A., Chiricosta, L., Bramanti, P., Merciaro, I., Trubiani, O. (2019). 3D printing PLA/Gingival stem cells/ EVs upregulate miR-2861 and -210 during osteoangiogenesis commitment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(13): 3256.

9. Rafique A., Bulbul Y. E., Usman A., et al. (2023) Effect of cold plasma treatment on polylactic acid and polylactic acid/poly (ethylene glycol) films developed as a drug delivery system for streptomycin sulfate. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 235: 123857.

10. Li, R., Zhang, J., Chen, J., et al. (2014) Modified polylactic acid loading docetaxel for anticancer drug delivery. Journal of chemical industry and engineering, China, 65.6: 2357-2362.

11. Rancan, F., Papakostas, D., Hadam, S., Hackbarth, S., Delair, T., Primard, C., Vogt, A. (2009). Investigation of polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for local dermatotherapy. Pharmaceutical Research, 26(8), 2027-36.

12. Na, Y., Zhang, N., Zhong, X., Gu, J., Yan, C., Yin, S., Lei, X., Zhao, J., Geng, F. (2023) Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid-Based Nanoparticles Modified with Peptides and Other Linkers Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier for Targeted Drug Delivery. Nanomedicine 18.2: 125–143.

13. Ma, Z., Li, X., Jia, X., Bai, J., Jiang, X. (2016) Folate-Conjugated Polylactic Acid-Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles as Degradable Carriers for Targeted Drug Delivery, On-Demand Release and Simultaneous Self-Clearance. ChemPlusChem, 81.7: 652–659.

14. Hajikhani M., Emam-Djomeh Z., Askari G. (2021) Fabrication and Characterization of Mucoadhesive Bioplastic Patch via Coaxial Polylactic Acid (PLA) Based Electrospun Nanofibers with Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Application. International journal of biological macromolecules, 172: 143–153.

15. Horvat, G., Žvab, K., Knez, Ž., & Novak, Z. (2023). Hybrid polylactic-Acid–Pectin aerogels: Synthesis, structural properties, and drug release. Polymers, 15(2), 407.

16. Sultan S., Thomas N., Varghese M., et al. (2022) The Design of 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid–Bioglass Composite Scaffold: A Potential Implant Material for Bone Tissue Engineering. Molecules, 27(21): 7214.

17. Fouly A., Assaifan A. K., Alnaser I. A., et al. (2022) Evaluating the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of 3D Printed Polylactic-Acid (PLA) Green-Composite for Artificial Implant: Hip Joint Case Study. Polymers, 14(23): 5299.

18. Banitaba S. N., Gharehaghaji A. A., Jeddi A. A. A. (2021) Fabrication and Characterization of Hollow Electrospun PLA Structure through a Modified Electrospinning Method Applicable as Vascular Graft. Bulletin of materials science, 44(2): 158.

19. Li, C., Wang, F., Chen, P., Zhang, Z., Guidoin, R., Wang, L. (2017) Preventing Collapsing of Vascular Scaffolds: The Mechanical Behavior of PLA/PCL Composite Structure Prostheses During in Vitro Degradation. Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials, 75: 455–462.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Authors who publish this series agree to the following terms:

1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this series.

2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this series.

3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See Open Access Instruction).

Volume Title
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Biological Engineering and Medical Science
ISBN (Print)
978-1-83558-219-0
ISBN (Online)
978-1-83558-220-6
Published Date
20 December 2023
Series
Theoretical and Natural Science
ISSN (Print)
2753-8818
ISSN (Online)
2753-8826
DOI
10.54254/2753-8818/23/20231021
Copyright
20 December 2023
Open Access
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Copyright © 2023 EWA Publishing. Unless Otherwise Stated