Polylactic Acid (PLA)

Inquiry

Cat Number

PIE-0162

CAS Number

26023-30-3

If you have any other questions, please contact our experts.

Product Detail Description Scientific Support Customer Q&A

CAS Number

26023-30-3

Storage

Store at -20℃

Synonyms

PLA; Poly-2-hydroxypropanoic acid; Polysarcolatic acid; Poly[oxy(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl)]; Poly(lactic acid)

Molecular Formula

(C3H4O2)n

Melting Point

151°C

General Description

Polylactic acid is a biodegradable thermoplastic polyester produced from renewable resources like corn starch, tapioca roots or sugarcane. It can be produced with significantly lower energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions than comparable petroleum-based plastics. PLA is produced by fermenting plant-derived sugars to lactic acid and then linking these acid molecules together into long polymer chains. PLA has physical characteristics similar to polystyrene or polyethylene, such as being clear and rigid.

Application

Packaging: PLA can be used in many food packaging applications, such as bowls, cutlery, and clear wrap for produce, as a compostable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
Medical: PLA is used in many medical applications. Since PLA is biodegradable and compatible with human tissue, it has been researched as having possible applications in sutures, implants, and drug delivery systems.
3D Printing (Fused Deposition Modeling): Because of its ease of use, minimal warping, high quality finish, PLA is becoming very popular in the growing market of desktop 3D printing.
Clothing and Upholstery: PLA has also been made into fibers and used in textiles such as clothing and upholstery.

There are three ways of drug release from a PLA-based DDS: (i) diffusion through the polymer phase, (ii) diffusion through water-filled pores, and (iii) due to dissolution of the encapsulating polymer. The encapsulated drug is usually a protein or peptide that is too large and too hydrophilic to transport through the polymer phase. Thus, transport through water-filled pores is observed most commonly when working with PLA and PLGA microparticles. Diffusion through the polymer phase is possible when the drug molecule is hydrophobic and small enough. More than one of these mechanisms occurs within microparticle drug delivery systems. These three basic types of drug release result in three categories of drug release mechanisms from polymer microparticle systems: (i) release via diffusion of the drug from the particle surface, (ii) release by particle erosion caused by polymer degradation, and (iii) release by transport through the swollen polymer matrix.

Fig. 1 Drug release mechanisms of PLA microspheres. (Vlachopoulos A, et al. 2022)

References

Vlachopoulos A, et al. Poly (lactic acid)-based microparticles for drug delivery applications: an overview of recent advances. Pharmaceutics. 2022, 14(2): 359.

How should I store Polylactic Acid to prevent degradation?

Keep Polylactic Acid in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture.

What information is needed for a Polylactic Acid price quote?

Please provide your required quantity and CAS number for Polylactic Acid.

How can I track my Polylactic Acid shipment status?

We provide a tracking number of lading once the Polylactic Acid departs.

Which documents are provided with a Polylactic Acid shipment?

You will receive the COA, packing list, and invoice for Polylactic Acid.