Poly(α-hydroxy acid) based polymers: A review on material and degradation aspects

Kishore Ginjupalli, Gopal Venkat Shavi, Ranjith Kumar Averineni, Mahalinga Bhat, N. Udupa, P. Nagaraja Upadhya

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

At present, a significant research activity is being undertaken to develop biologically compatible and degradable scaffolds for various biomedical applications. An ideal scaffolding material would act as a temporary replacement for the tissue that is lost or damaged while promoting its healing/regeneration. Amongst diverse group of materials, polymers are the most widely investigated for various applications. The popularity of polymers is attributed to the ability to control their properties by preparing scaffolds with varying porosity, geometry, surface area, mechanical and surface characteristics. Today, polymer based materials are an integral part of numerous applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc. No single material is suitable for all these applications each with explicit requisites. Hence, selection of biomaterials should be based on how far the scaffolding materials meet the requisite properties of the intended application. Polymers based on lactic and glycolic acids are extensively used biodegradable materials with long history of use in a variety of applications. The present review aims to provide an insight into biodegradable polymers based on lactic and glycolic acids, their biodegradation principles and behavior along with various problems encountered during their use and various methods used to overcome the shortcomings of these materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)520-535
Number of pages16
JournalPolymer Degradation and Stability
Volume144
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-10-2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Materials Chemistry

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