Injectable formulations of poly(lactic acid) and its copolymers in clinical use

Poly(lactic acid) and its copolymers have revolutionized the field of drug delivery due to their excellent biocompatibility and tunable physico-chemical properties. These copolymers have served the healthcare sector by contributing many products to combat various diseases and for biomedical applications. This article provides a comprehensive overview of clinically used products of poly(lactic acid) and its copolymers. Multi-dimension information covering product approval, formulation aspects and clinical status is described to provide a panoramic overview of each product. Moreover, leading patented technologies and various clinical trials on these products for different applications are included. This review focuses on marketed injectable formulations of PLA and its copolymers. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.