Polyesters are used in a number of FDA approved therapeutic devices, owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are degraded by hydrolysis of their ester linkages in the body. 1) PCL, Polycaprolactone is often used as an implantable biomaterial in long term implantable devices. 2) PLGA – poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymer are available at a wide range of molecular weight (MW) and monomer (lactide to glycolide) ratios. PLGA can be dissolved in a wide range of solvents – higher lactide polymers can be dissolved using chlorinated solvents whereas higher glycolide polymers will require the use of fluorinated solvents such as HFIP. 3) PLA, Poly(lactic acid) or polylactic acid or polylactide is a biodegradable aliphatic polyester. Due to the chiral center in the monomer (two L- or D- enantiomer forms), several PLA polymers exist such as isomerically pure poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and poly-D-lactide (PDLA) and the racemic mixture poly-D,L-lactide (PDLLA). 4) PGA, Polyglycolide or poly(glycolic acid) has unusual solubility. In its high molecular weight form PGA is insoluble in almost all common organic solvents but could be soluble in highly fluorinated solvents like hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and perfluoroacetone, while low molecular weight PGA is more soluble in common organic solvents.
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