Effects of Polymer Morphology on PLGA degradation kinetics

Introduction: Applying pressure to bioerodible polymers under specific temperature conditions can induce morphological changes. We reported the formation of four distinct morphologies in polycaprolactone (PCL) after processing: crystalline, amorphous, condis-crystal, and plastic-crystal mesophases [1, 2, 3]. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a widely-used polymer for drug delivery due to its biodegradability and low toxicity [4]. This study investigates the effects of heat and pressure processing on the morphology of PLGA and its impact on degradation kinetics.

Jacob Koster – Medical Student, College of Medicine, University of Arizona - Phoenix; Timea Kolozsvary – Graduate Student, Department of Chemistry, Brown University; Jingge Chen – Graduate Student, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University; David Shafiei – Graduate Student, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University; Susan George – Graduate Student, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University; Benjamin McDonald – Professor, Department of Chemistry, Brown University; Edith Mathiowitz – Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University