Have you ever wondered what goes into the materials used to make the sutures that stitch up your wounds or the implants that help your body heal? One of the most common materials used in these applications is polyglycolic acid (PGA), a biodegradable polymer with a fascinating history. PGA is a synthetic polymer made from glycolic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables. It was first developed in the
1950s as a biodegradable suture material, and it has since become one of the most widely used biodegradable polymers.
What makes PGA so special? Explore PGA and its fascinating properties and applications in this article now!
1. What is polyglycolic acid?
1.1. How crucial is polyglycolic acid?
Picture 1. PGA is committed to developing sustainable consumer products.
PGA is a truly remarkable material with the potential to revolutionize the medical industry. It is strong, flexible, biodegradable, and biocompatible. PGA is already being used to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
This statement is supported by a report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, which states that PGA is used in various medical procedures, including general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, and gynecological surgery. The report also reveals that PGA is used in over 50 million medical procedures each year.
1.2. How is polyglycolic acid made?
The only ingredient needed to make polyglycolic acid (PGA) is glycolic acid, a natural substance in fruits and vegetables.
To make PGA, glycolic acid is first dissolved in a solvent, such as dioxane or methylene chloride. A catalyst, such as tin or zinc, is then added to the solution. The solution is then heated to a temperature of 110-130 degrees Celsius, which initiates the polymerization reaction. The polymerization reaction proceeds for several hours until the desired length of the PGA chain is reached.
Once the polymerization reaction is complete, the PGA polymer is precipitated from the solution by adding water or another solvent. The PGA polymer is then filtered and dried. After that, it can be processed into many forms, such as fibers, films, and foams. PGA can also be blended with other polymers to create new materials with improved properties.
1.3. Properties of polyglycolic acid
Picture 2. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a versatile and sustainable material
Is polyglycolic acid biodegradable? Yes. In fact, biodegradability is one of its most vital properties, making it widely used in many industries.
Here are some of the main properties of PGA:
- Strength: PGA has a tensile strength comparable to nylon. This makes it ideal for medical applications where the material needs to bear significant loads, such as sutures and bone plates.
- Flexibility: PGA is also a flexible polymer, easy to process into fibers, films, and foams. Medics also use PGA to conform to the anatomy, such as surgical mesh and tissue engineering scaffolds.
- Biodegradability: PGA can be broken down by the body over time. Millions of PGA implants are used each year to deliver drugs and therapies.
- Biocompatibility: PGA is a biocompatible polymer, non-toxic to the human body and does not cause an immune response. This makes it ideal for use in a wide range of medical applications.
In addition to these properties, PGA also has a number of other properties that make it a valuable material for a wide range of applications. For example, PGA is transparent, non-toxic, and has a low melting point.
1.4. Compare PGA with other plastic
Here is a comparison of PGA to some other common plastics:
Property
|
PGA |
Polyethylene (PE) |
Polypropylene (PP) |
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) |
Tensile strength
|
50-100 MPa |
10-20 MPa
|
30-40 MPa
|
30-50 MPa |
| Flexibility |
High |
Medium |
High |
Medium |
| Biodegradability |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| Biocompatibility |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
| Sustainability |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Learn more about biodegradable plastic:
What are biodegradable plastics?
2. What is polyglycolic acid used for?
2.1. Medical applications
Picture 3 . PGA is used to develop new and innovative medical devices
- Sutures: PGA sutures are commonly used to stitch wounds together. They are durable and flexible, yet they dissolve over time, eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove them.
- Implants: PGA implants can be used to deliver drugs, including antibiotics, pain relievers, and growth factors. The implants are biodegradable, so they do not need to be removed once the drug has been delivered.
- Tissue engineering scaffolds: PGA tissue engineering scaffolds help grow new tissues and organs. They are biodegradable, so the body eventually replaces them with its own tissues.
2.2. Industrial applications
- Packaging materials: PGA can be used to make compostable packaging materials that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
- Compostable bags: PGA can be used to make compostable bags that can be broken down and composted along with food scraps and other organic materials.
- Medical devices: PGA can be used to develop many medical devices, such as surgical mesh and stents.
3. The future of PGA
3.1. New and emerging applications of PGA
Picture 4. PGA market is growing significantly in many industries
Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer that is rapidly gaining traction in numerous industries, including medicine, energy, and environmental remediation. PGA is particularly well-suited for 3D printing, as it can be used to create personalized and customized medical devices, implants, and other products tailored to the needs of individual patients.
In the medical field, PGA is already being used to create a wide range of products. PGA-based implants are particularly promising, as they can be designed to degrade at a controlled rate, allowing the body's own tissues to heal and regenerate. For example, researchers are developing new ways to use PGA to create 3D printed implants for patients with facial injuries. These implants can be customized to match the patient's facial structure and can help to restore their appearance and function.
PGA is also being explored for new energy storage devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors. PGA-based energy storage devices could be more environmentally friendly and have a longer lifespan than traditional devices. For instance, researchers are detecting new methods using PGA to create nanomaterials for batteries and supercapacitors. These nanomaterials could be used to evolve more efficient and durable energy storage devices.
Finally, PGA is also being investigated for use in new environmental remediation technologies, such as water purification and soil remediation. PGA could be used to remove pollutants from water and soil, making them cleaner and safer. Researchers are developing new ways to use PGA to create biofilters that can remove pollutants from water. These biofilters could be used to clean up polluted water sources and make them safe for drinking and irrigation.
As research on PGA continues, we can expect to see even more innovative and sustainable uses for this material in the future.
3.2. Challenges and opportunities for PGA
One of the main challenges for PGA is its cost. PGA is a relatively expensive material to manufacture. This is due to the complex process involved in producing PGA and the high cost of the raw materials. However, the cost of PGA is expected to decrease as the technology for manufacturing PGA improves.
Another challenge for PGA is its degradation rate. The degradation rate of PGA can be unpredictable, which fluctuates to design devices and implants that will degrade at the desired rate. However, researchers are developing new ways to control the degradation rate of PGA, such as by using different additives.
4. Conclusion
Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a promising material with a wide range of potential applications. It is biodegradable, biocompatible, and versatile. However, there are also some challenges that need to be addressed in order to fully realize its potential, such as its cost and unpredictable degradation rate.
If you're interested in learning more about PGA or plastic in general, head to our Europlas library. It's a treasure trove of information, from articles and blog posts to videos and product demos. You'll also find a team of experts who are always happy to answer your questions and help you find the right PGA product for your needs.