PLGA, a Hauler for Anticancer Drugs: Review

Abstract

Polymers are the mainstay of drug delivery systems. They may be natural, semisynthetic, or synthetic and used to program the release of drugs as per requirement. They are used to enhance the bioavailability and hence solubility, stability, and site specificity, or to release to drug either in a controlled, pulsatile, sustained, immediate release pattern. In the present review, we have discussed the recent prose and patents of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and PLGA applicability in preparing formulations against cancer. Synthetic polymer, PLGA comprises monomers of glycolide and lactide available in various grades with varying physicochemical properties thus serving the formulators to fabricate preparations having designed release patterns. In this review, current literature and patents of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); PLGA using anticancer preparations have been covered. PLGA has demonstrated its potential as a polymer to program the release of drugs as a coating polymer and the development of a matrix in various drug delivery systems. It can augment the bioavailability of the drug reducing the toxicity/side effects and delivering the drug at the target site. The potential of PLGA to transfer the drug may unclutter novel ways for therapeutic interventions in various tumors.