Review article highlights usage of PEG-PLGA type polymers for drug delivery

PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide array of biodegradable block copolymers. Recently, an excellent review article came out which covers the use of these types of polymers for drug delivery applications. This article touches on several applications of PEG-PLGA type drug delivery including delivery strategies for drugs such as ICU 189150, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, etoposide, rapamycin,17-AAG, bicalutamide, embelin, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, β-lapachone, pifithrin, sagopilone, and thiocoraline. There is also information regarding clinical formulations which have been tried previously in clinical trials including Genexol and Oncogel. Genexol is an mPEG-PLA based formulation with block sizes of 2000Da mPEG and 1750Da PLA. The most similar Polyvivo product to this one would be Cat# AK069. Oncogel is based off of Regel which is a PLGA-PEG-PLGA with overall molecular weight of 4200Da and a ratio of LA:GA of 3:1. The most similar PolyVivo product to this one would be Cat# AK091. Read more: Cho, Hyunah, Jieming Gao, and Glen S. Kwon. "PEG-b-PLA micelles and PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol–gels for drug delivery." Journal of Controlled Release (2015). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365915302674

“Abstract: Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-block-polyethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA) sol–gels have been extensively researched for systemic and localized drug delivery applications, respectively, and they have both progressed into humans for paclitaxel, an important yet poorly water-soluble chemotherapeutic agent. In this review article, preclinical and clinical research on PEG-b-PLA micelles and PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol–gels that has focused on paclitaxel will be updated, and recent research on other poorly water-soluble anticancer agents and delivery of drug combinations (i.e. multi-drug delivery) that seeks synergistic anticancer efficacy will be summarized. PEG-b-PLA micelles are a first-generation platform for the systemic multi-delivery of poorly water soluble anticancer agents. PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol–gels are a first-generation platform for the localized multi-drug delivery of water-soluble and/or poorly water-soluble anticancer agents. In summary, PEG-b-PLA micelles and PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA sol–gels may safely enable pre-clinical evaluation and clinical translation of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents, especially for promising, rapidly emerging anticancer combinations. Keywords: Block copolymer; Controlled release; Drug combination; Drug solubilization; Hydrogels; Polymeric micelles; Prodrugs”