Biodegradable Polymers and Long-Acting Parenteral Formulations: An Overview

Abstract

To treat chronic ailments or other serious disorders, patients are frequently required to take daily prescription medications for long periods of time. A frequent and lengthy dose schedule, however, is typically challenging for most patients to follow. Long-acting parenteral formulations (LAPFs) are preferable to traditional ones in management of several ailments. By extending the release time of drug administration, LAPFs may increase patient compliance and, as a result, treatment outcomes. Biodegradable polymer-based long-acting injectable formulations being frequently utilized as drug delivery systems due to their substantial bioavailability, improved encapsulation, controlled release, and lesser toxic characteristics. This review discusses various biodegradable polymers including PLGA, polycaprolactone, hyaluronic acid, and albumin used in Long-acting injectable formulations, and the work reported using that biodegradable polymer for encapsulation of various drugs.