Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) or PGA, is a chemical compound , a copolymer composed of 2-hydroxypropanoyl and 2-hydroxyacetyl. It is a macromolecule of polyester copolymer and a macromolecule of polyester.

PLGA , due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, a wide range of degradation rates and adjustable mechanical properties, has been widely applied in controlled drug release techniques. PLGA base has been used to construct a wide range of drug delivery systems for the treatment or diagnosis of various diseases and disorders.

In this study, biodegradable polydegradable (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds (Vicryl & Ethisorb) were tested as transient carriers for genetically engineered cells. To this end, we used human fibroblasts and examined the attachment and proliferation of non-transfected cells on the scaffolds in vitro, as well as the mechanical properties of the scaffolds at four time points (1, 3, 6 and 9 days) of cultivation. Bioresorbable PLGA scaffolds can be used as a vehicle for transiently transfected cell delivery and may pave the way for a variety of applications in gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Scaffolds with a condensed structure and smaller pore size could lead to improved cell- scaffold interaction and thus lead to higher yields of desired recombinant therapeutic proteins (1).

Commercially, there are several plates and screws for bone fracture fixation made with PLA, however, its long degradation time and lack of integration with bone structure, provides interest in research using polymers with faster degradation, such as PLGA, and together with bioceramics, in order to improve bioactivity in bone regeneration. The results of this study suggest changes in the thermal and mechanical properties of PLGA plates with bioceramic insertion and provide a better understanding of composites fabricated with PLGA and bioceramics (2).

In order to improve and enhance the performance of cosmetic products, nanospheresPLGA containing provitamin C have been used recently. The results show that the skin is improved under the ptofile of permeability and absorbability (3).

Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) studies

Molecular Formula : C₅H₈O₅

Molecular Weight: 148.11 g/mol

CAS: 26780-50-7

Synonims: 

• Acid Polyester, Glycolic-Lactic
• Glycolic Lactic Acid Polyester
• Dimethyldioxanedione Polymer with Dioxanedione Polymer
• Dioxanedione Polymer with Dimethyldioxanedione Polymer
• Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide)
• Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycoside)
• Polygalactin 910
• Glycolic-Lactic Acid Polyester
• Poly(Glycolide Lactide)Copolymer
• Polyester, Glycolic-Lactic Acid

References______________________________________________________________

(1) Perisic T, Zhang Z, Foehr P, Hopfner U, Klutz K, Burgkart RH, Slobodianski A, Goeldner M, Machens HG, Schilling AF. Biodegradable poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds as carriers for genetically-modified fibroblasts. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 5;12(4):e0174860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174860.

(2) Dos Santos TMBK, Merlini C, Aragones Á, Fredel MC. Manufacturing and characterization of plates for fracture fixation of bone with biocomposites of poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) with calcium phosphates bioceramics. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2019 Oct;103:109728. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.05.013. 

(3) Hiroyuki Tsujimoto, Kaori Hara, Application 9 - Development of Functional Skin Care Cosmetics Using Biodegradable PLGA Nanospheres,  Editor(s): Makio Naito, Toyokazu Yokoyama, Kouhei Hosokawa, Kiyoshi Nogi, Nanoparticle Technology Handbook (Third Edition), Elsevier, 2018, Pages 445-450, ISBN 9780444641106, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-64110-6.00016-0.