Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) Film
Synonyms: PLGA Polymer Film
Ratio(LA: GA): 50:50/75:25/85:15/65:35
Thickness: 50/100/150 micron
Molecular weight: Customisation
Appearance: clear film
Minimal order quantity: 300 square centimeters
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) film is a biodegradable and biocompatible material designed for controlled degradation and safe resorption, making it ideal for pharmaceutical, biomedical, and advanced research applications. The copolymer structure of lactic and glycolic acid allows precise tuning of degradation rate, mechanical properties, and film behavior to match specific project requirements.
This PLGA film is engineered for high purity and consistency, providing reliable performance in sensitive applications such as drug delivery coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and implantable medical devices. Uniform thickness and surface quality support reproducible results in both in vitro and in vivo studies, while the amorphous nature of PLGA enables predictable erosion and release profiles.
Customers typically use PLGA films as substrates or coatings where temporary structural support and gradual resorption are required, including barrier layers, bioactive coatings, or degradation-controlled interfaces. The tunable lactic:glycolic ratio and molecular weight options allow users to select films with faster or slower degradation, depending on target application and study duration.
For successful integration into your workflow, key considerations include the desired degradation timeframe, target environment (physiological vs. ambient), sterilization method, and compatibility with drugs, cells, or bioactive molecules you plan to load or coat on the film. Technical data such as copolymer ratio, intrinsic viscosity, thickness range, and storage conditions are available to support method development, scale-up, and regulatory documentation.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
PLGA films are typically supplied in a range of lactic:glycolic ratios (for example, 50:50, 65:35, 75:25, 85:15) to provide different degradation rates. Thickness can usually be customized within a defined range , depending on your application requirements and order volume.
Degradation time depends mainly on the lactic:glycolic ratio, molecular weight, film thickness, and the exposure environment. Higher glycolic content and lower molecular weight generally lead to faster degradation, while thicker films and higher lactic content slow the process. Actual in vitro and in vivo degradation profiles should be determined under your specific conditions.
PLGA is widely used in resorbable medical devices and drug delivery systems; however, suitability for in vivo use depends on your formulation, processing, sterilization method, and regulatory strategy. Users are responsible for performing their own biocompatibility, toxicity, and regulatory assessments before clinical or commercial use.
PLGA film should be stored in a cool, dry place, protected from light, moisture, and elevated temperatures. Sealed packaging and desiccants are recommended to minimize premature hydrolysis, and refrigeration (but not freezing) is often preferred for long-term stability unless otherwise specified in the technical datasheet.
Common sterilization approaches include ethylene oxide and gamma irradiation, but these methods can affect molecular weight and degradation behavior.
Yes, PLGA films are frequently used as drug-loaded or bioactive coatings. Incorporation can be achieved by solvent casting with the active ingredient, surface adsorption, or post-coating methods. Compatibility, loading efficiency, and release kinetics must be optimized and validated by the user for each molecule.
Technical support is typically available to help with material selection, processing recommendations, and basic troubleshooting. Custom options—such as specific PLGA ratios, molecular weights, film thicknesses—may be offered depending on project needs and order quantities.
PLLA and PCL are crystalline polymers. During the film fabrication process, due to recrystallization, the materials may shrink unevenly, resulting in a wrinkled appearance.