Poly-lactic acid synthesis for application in biomedical devices — A review

Bioabsorbable polymers are considered a suitable alternative to the improvement and development of numerous applications in medicine. Poly-lactic acid (PLA,) is one of the most promising biopolymers due to the fact that the monomers may produced from non toxic renewable feedstock as well as is natur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biotechnology advances 2012, Vol.30 (1), p.321-328
Main Authors: Lasprilla, Astrid J.R., Martinez, Guillermo A.R., Lunelli, Betânia H., Jardini, André L., Filho, Rubens Maciel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioabsorbable polymer
biocompatibility
Biocompatible Materials - metabolism
Biomass
Biomaterials
biopolymers
Biopolymers - biosynthesis
composite polymers
feedstocks
Fermentation
humans
Lactic acid
Lactic Acid - biosynthesis
manufacturing
mechanical properties
medical equipment
medicine
Polyesters
Polymers
Renewable Energy
Renewable resources
Saccharum - metabolism
Sugarcane
sugars
tissue engineering
tissues
toxicity
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Summary:Bioabsorbable polymers are considered a suitable alternative to the improvement and development of numerous applications in medicine. Poly-lactic acid (PLA,) is one of the most promising biopolymers due to the fact that the monomers may produced from non toxic renewable feedstock as well as is naturally occurring organic acid. Lactic acid can be made by fermentation of sugars obtained from renewable resources as such sugarcane. Therefore, PLA is an eco-friendly product with better features for use in the human body (nontoxicity). Lactic acid polymers can be synthesized by different processes so as to obtain products with an ample variety of chemical and mechanical properties. Due to their excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties, PLA and their copolymers are becoming widely used in tissue engineering for function restoration of impaired tissues. In order to maximize the benefits of its use, it is necessary to understand the relationship between PLA material properties, the manufacturing process and the final product with desired characteristics. In this paper, the lactic acid production by fermentation and the polymer synthesis such biomaterial are reviewed. The paper intends to contribute to the critical knowledge and development of suitable use of PLA for biomedical applications.
ISSN:0734-9750
1873-1899
DOI:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.06.019