New poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) derivatives: Modular polymers with tailored properties.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most widely used polymers in drug delivery, despite several well-characterized shortcomings. Polymer modification is one approach to improve PLGA-based formulation properties, such as drug stability, drug release profiles, mechanism of polymer degradation and the possibility of drug targeting. A brief summary of recent reports on PLGA modifications is provided and a new class of branched polyester derivatives is introduced. In vitro and in vivo applications of the new branched polyesters as protein carriers, gene delivery vehicles, vaccine adjuvants and pulmonary drug delivery vehicles are described.: