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Polylactic acid (PLA) synthesis and modifications: a review

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Frontiers of Chemistry in China

Abstract

This article reviews various methods of synthesizing polycondensation and ring-opening polymerization and modifying properties of polylactic acid (PLA), which may be used as biomaterials, such as a drug carrier in a drug delivery system, as a cell scaffold and suture in tissue engineering, and as packaging materials in packaging engineering field. Copolymerization of lactide with other monomers or polymers such as malic acid, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyglycolic acid (PGA), or dextran, as well as blending polylactide with natural derivatives and other methods of modification are discussed. Surface modifications of PLA-type copolymers, such as surface coating, chemical modification, and plasma treatment are described.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yanling Cheng

  2. Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Yanling Cheng, Shaobo Deng, Paul Chen & Roger Ruan

Authors
  1. Yanling Cheng
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  2. Shaobo Deng
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  3. Paul Chen
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  4. Roger Ruan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roger Ruan.

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Cheng, Y., Deng, S., Chen, P. et al. Polylactic acid (PLA) synthesis and modifications: a review. Front. Chem. China 4, 259–264 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11458-009-0092-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11458-009-0092-x

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