PLGA Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
Summary
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles constitute a versatile and biocompatible platform for controlled drug delivery. Their degradation rate and mechanical properties can be tuned by adjusting the lactic-to-glycolic acid ratio, enabling sustained release profiles tailored to specific therapeutic objectives. Common fabrication methods—including emulsion–solvent evaporation, nanoprecipitation and microfluidic technologies—allow precise control over particle size, surface charge and morphology. Surface functionalisation with polyethylene glycol, targeting ligands or biological membranes extends circulation time, enhances cellular uptake and permits site-specific delivery. PLGA carriers have been explored in oncology, inflammation, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders. In cancer therapy, passive targeting via the enhanced permeability and retention effect and active targeting through ligand conjugation improve tumour accumulation. Co-encapsulation of multiple agents supports combination therapies and theranostic applications. Emerging efforts focus on scalable manufacturing and quality-by-design approaches to bridge laboratory innovation and clinical translation, underscoring the global significance of PLGA nanoparticle systems in precision medicine.
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PLGA Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in plga nanoparticle drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
PLGA: A biocompatible copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids widely used for controlled and sustained drug release.
Nanoparticle: A submicrometre carrier (typically 1–1000 nm) designed to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents.
Encapsulation efficiency: The fraction of the initial drug quantity successfully incorporated into the nanoparticle formulation.
Enhanced permeability and retention effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumour tissue owing to leaky vasculature and impaired lymphatic drainage.
Blood–brain barrier: A selective endothelial interface that limits passage of most molecules from the bloodstream into the central nervous system.
References
- Characterization and Preliminary In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of a New Multidrug Formulation Based on the Co-Encapsulation of Rutin and the α-Acylamino-β-Lactone NAAA Inhibitor URB894 within PLGA Nanoparticles. Antioxidants (2023).
- Platelet membrane encapsulated curcumin nanomaterial-mediated specific thrombolysis and anti-thrombotic treatment among pregnant women. Biomaterials Science (2024).
- PLGA Nanoparticle-Based Formulations to Cross the Blood–Brain Barrier for Drug Delivery: From R&D to cGMP. Pharmaceutics (2021).
- PLGA-based nanomedicines manufacturing: Technologies overview and challenges in industrial scale-up. International Journal of Pharmaceutics (2021).
About these summaries
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