Polylactic acid (PLA): Properties, synthesis, and biomedical applications – A review of the literature

This comprehensive review is an in-depth analysis of polylactic acid (PLA), an increasingly important biopolymer due to its wide-ranging applications and sustainability features. PLA's physical, thermal, and mechanical properties are closely linked to its molecular distribution, mass, and stereochemistry, allowing it to exist in amorphous or semicrystalline states. The controlled polymerization of different optical monomers enables the creation of PLA variants with distinct properties. To address PLA's inherent hardness limitation, researchers are exploring blends with stereo complexes like PLLA/PDLA, leading to enhanced mechanical and thermal characteristics. PLA's moldability supports its versatility in…

• FP
  Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia