Im, Seung Hyuk Im, Dam Hyeok Park, Su Jeong Chung, Justin Jihong Jung, Youngmee Kim, Soo Hyun 2024-01-19T14:34:22Z 2024-01-19T14:34:22Z 2021-10-21 2021-05 1420-3049 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/117033 Polylactide (PLA) is among the most common biodegradable polymers, with applications in various fields, such as renewable and biomedical industries. PLA features poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) enantiomers, which form stereocomplex crystals through racemic blending. PLA emerged as a promising material owing to its sustainable, eco-friendly, and fully biodegradable properties. Nevertheless, PLA still has a low applicability for drug delivery as a carrier and scaffold. Stereocomplex PLA (sc-PLA) exhibits substantially improved mechanical and physical strength compared to the homopolymer, overcoming these limitations. Recently, numerous studies have reported the use of sc-PLA as a drug carrier through encapsulation of various drugs, proteins, and secondary molecules by various processes including micelle formation, self-assembly, emulsion, and inkjet printing. However, concerns such as low loading capacity, weak stability of hydrophilic contents, and non-sustainable release behavior remain. This review focuses on various strategies to overcome the current challenges of sc-PLA in drug delivery systems and biomedical applications in three critical fields, namely anti-cancer therapy, tissue engineering, and anti-microbial activity. Furthermore, the excellent potential of sc-PLA as a next-generation polymeric material is discussed. English MDPI ENANTIOMERIC POLY(LACTIC ACID)S POLYELECTROLYTE COMPLEXES MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH VASCULAR SCAFFOLDS DEXTRAN HYDROGELS CROSS-LINKING TISSUE ANTIBACTERIAL PH Stereocomplex Polylactide for Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications: A Review Article 10.3390/molecules26102846 1 MOLECULES, v.26, no.10 MOLECULES 26 10 scie scopus 000655067900001 2-s2.0-85106599338 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry, Multidisciplinary Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Chemistry Review ENANTIOMERIC POLY(LACTIC ACID)S POLYELECTROLYTE COMPLEXES MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH VASCULAR SCAFFOLDS DEXTRAN HYDROGELS CROSS-LINKING TISSUE ANTIBACTERIAL PH polylactide stereocomplex biodegradable polymers drug delivery system biomedical applications