Polylactic acid (PLA), also known as polypropylene glycol ester, is a polyester polymer obtained by polymerizing lactic acid as the main raw material, which is a new type of biodegradable material.
Publicly available information shows that PLA is mainly made from starch raw materials proposed using renewable plant resources such as corn. The starch raw material is saccharified to obtain glucose, which is then fermented with certain strains of bacteria to make high-purity lactic acid, and then synthesized into PLA of a certain molecular weight by chemical synthesis. It has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature after use, eventually generating carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment, which is very beneficial to the protection of the environment and is recognized as an environmentally friendly material.
PLA is used in a wide range of applications: from daily necessities to biomedical fields
PLA has good thermal stability, processing temperature 170～230℃, good solvent resistance, and can be processed in various ways, such as extrusion, spinning, biaxial stretching, injection blow molding. In addition to biodegradability, products made from PLA have good biocompatibility, gloss, transparency, handfeel and heat resistance, as well as a certain degree of bacterial resistance, flame retardancy and UV resistance, so they are very versatile, and can be used as packaging materials, fibers and nonwovens, etc. They are now mainly used in the fields of daily necessities (packaging, apparel), industry (construction, agriculture, forestry, paper) and biomedicine.
Food Packaging
PLA materials have good transparency, heat resistance and oxygen barrier properties, making them suitable for food packaging. For example, transparent boxes made of PLA can be used to package fruits, vegetables and other foods, and can effectively protect the freshness and quality of food. In addition, PLA materials can also be made into disposable tableware, such as lunch boxes, cutlery, straws, etc., which can replace the traditional plastic tableware and reduce the pollution of the environment.
Fabrics
PLA materials can be blended with other fiber materials to make biodegradable textiles. These textiles can be used to make clothing, bags, home furnishings and more. Compared to traditional synthetic fibers, PLA textiles are less irritating to the skin and less polluting to the environment.
Agricultural sector
PLA materials are also widely used in the agricultural field. For example, PLA materials can be made into agricultural film, which is used to cover farmland and play the role of heat preservation, moisture preservation and grass suppression. Compared with the traditional plastic agricultural film, PLA material agricultural film can be naturally degraded after use, and will not cause pollution to the soil.
3D printing
PLA material is one of the commonly used 3D printing materials, which has good plasticity and molding properties, and can be used to create a variety of complex structures through 3D printing technology.The PLA material used in 3D printing can be pure PLA or a mixture of PLA and other materials, which can be used to make only models, parts, crafts and so on.
medical equipment
PLA materials are widely used in medical devices due to their good biocompatibility and degradability. For example, PLA materials can be made into sutures, bone nails and screws for use in orthopedic surgery. During surgery, the PLA material will gradually degrade, eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove it, reducing patient pain and recovery time.
biomedical engineering
PLA materials have a wide range of application prospects in the field of biomedical engineering. PLA materials can be made into artificial bones, artificial joints, artificial blood vessels, etc., which are used to replace damaged tissues or organs. Due to the degradability of PLA materials, these artificial organs can be gradually absorbed by the body, reducing the risk of secondary surgery.
PLA production status and market in different industries
Frist，PLA in the field of regenerative medical aesthetics
Since lactic acid has a spin nature, there are three types of PLA corresponding to it: levulinic poly(lactic acid) L-PLA (PLLA), dextro-poly(lactic acid) D-PLA (PDLA), and racemic poly(lactic acid) DL-PLA (PDLLA). Of these, PLLA has been used in medical aesthetics since 1997.
Second, PLA in the field of orthopedic implantable medical devices
Orthopaedic implantable medical devices are devices implanted into the human body to replace, repair, supplement, fill or assist in the treatment of damaged bones, to maintain, support and repair the human skeleton. For orthopedic implants, the most researched materials are PLA and PGA and PGA/PLLA self-reinforced biodegradable composites, and some biodegradable PLA orthopedic materials have already been applied in the clinic.
Third, PLA in drug release control system
PLA also plays an important role in drug release control system. With PLA as the drug release control carrier, the drug can be released gradually with the degradation of the carrier in the human body to minimize the harm of the drug to the body. According to the processability of PLA, researchers can also choose to combine the drug with PLA to produce a more stable drug release control carrier. As the population ages, the incidence of chronic diseases continues to rise. Extended-release controlled-release formulations can help patients better manage chronic diseases and reduce exacerbations and complications. It can also improve drug efficacy and utilization, and reduce drug waste and side effects. For example, for diabetic patients, extended-release controlled-release formulations can slowly release medications to keep blood glucose levels stable, thereby reducing diabetic complications.
In the future, with the increasing demand for medical technology, the market share of extended release controlled release formulations is expected to increase, thereby driving the PLA related market.
In summary, PLA, as a biodegradable raw material, has broad business opportunities and market prospects in the context of sustainable development. The growth in demand, the expansion of profit margins and the promotion of technological innovation all bring more development opportunities for enterprises.
