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. 2020:1:76-87.
doi: 10.1016/j.engreg.2020.08.002. Epub 2020 Sep 6.

Applications of PLA in modern medicine

Vincent DeStefano  1 , Salaar Khan  1 , Alonzo Tabada  1
Affiliations

Applications of PLA in modern medicine

Vincent DeStefano et al. Eng Regen. 2020.

Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a versatile biopolymer. PLA is synthesized with ease from abundant renewable resources and is biodegradable. PLA has shown promise as a biomaterial in a plethora of healthcare applications such as tissue engineering or regenerative medicine, cardiovascular implants, dental niches, drug carriers, orthopedic interventions, cancer therapy, skin and tendon healing, and lastly medical tools / equipment. PLA has demonstrated instrumental importance as a three-dimensionally (3D) printable biopolymer, which has further been bolstered by its role during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (Covid-19) global pandemic. As an abundant filament, PLA has created desperately needed personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilator modifications. As polymer chemistry continues to advance, so too will the applications and continued efficacy of PLA-based modalities.

Keywords: Cancer therapy; Cardiovascular; Dental; Drug carriers; Orthopedics; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Tissue engineering; skin/tendon healing; surgical tools.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Synthesis pathways for PLA .
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
SEM images of PLA only composite (top) and PLA/calcium phosphate composite (bottom) .
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sizes of the cysts for histological examination (right) relative to scaffolds (left) .
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Schematic of design of doxorubicin-loaded stereocomplex micelle and administration to mouse subject .
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
MMC-loaded PLLA membrane formed based on the electrospinning technique outlined by Zhao et al. .
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Illustration of the fabrication process of PLA/Al2O3 nanoscaffolds for resin composites .
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Illustration of the components of the scaffold designed for ligament, cartilage, and bone regeneration .
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
A 3D printer performing the fabrication of an object using PLA as the filament.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Face shields printed through Stony Brook University iCreate for healthcare workers at Stony Brook Medical Center.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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