Poly(DL‑lactide) (PDLLA, MW 50‑100K) is high‑molecular‑weight amorphous biodegradable aliphatic polyester produced by ring‑opening polymerization of racemic D,L‑lactide. Random D‑ and L‑lactide repeating units eliminate crystallinity, which differs fundamentally from semi‑crystalline PLLA homopolymer. This high‑MW PDLLA possesses outstanding mechanical strength and toughness, accompanied by very slow homogeneous hydrolytic degradation. Its fully amorphous matrix enables uniform water diffusion inside polymer bulk, delivering stable long‑term degradation and sustained drug release over many months. Degradation metabolite is endogenous lactic acid that can be metabolized and eliminated in vivo with favorable biosafety. It is suitable for fabricating high‑strength absorbable biomaterials, long‑acting implantable devices and tissue‑engineering structural matrix research.
Key Features
- MW: 50000‑100000 Da, fully amorphous poly(DL‑lactide), no melting point; glass transition temperature Tg ≈53‑63 °C
- Amorphous microstructure guarantees homogeneous water infiltration and uniform hydrolytic degradation, free from heterogeneous degradation caused by crystalline domains
- High mechanical strength and good film‑forming property; compatible with hot‑press processing, solvent casting, electrospinning, micro‑molding
- Excellent biocompatibility; degradation product is endogenous lactic acid
- Soluble in DCM, CHCl₃, THF, DMF; insoluble in water, alcohols and aliphatic alkanes
- Strongly hygroscopic; ester bonds are highly susceptible to moisture‑catalyzed hydrolysis; strict moisture protection is required
Applications
- Raw material for high‑strength PDLLA microspheres, implant‑type sustained‑release depots for long‑term delivery of small‑molecule drugs, peptides and biomacromolecules
- Fabrication of dense high‑toughness biodegradable films, thick structural porous scaffolds for long‑cycle tissue‑engineering research
- Prepolymer for end‑group modification to synthesize high‑molecular‑weight functional PDLLA derivatives
- Research‑grade material for prototype development of high‑performance absorbable medical devices
Handling & Storage
- Store at −20 °C under dry sealed condition; strictly moisture‑proof, avoid dramatic temperature and humidity changes
- Allow container to fully equilibrate to room temperature before opening package to prevent condensation‑water contamination
- Hermetically seal after partial sampling; repeated freeze‑thaw cycles are forbidden
- For research‑only use; not intended for direct clinical or diagnostic applications
AxisPharm offers 5000+ PEG Linkers with high purity. Different kinds of PEG Reagents may be available by custom synthesis.