Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle fabrication, functionalization, and biological considerations for drug delivery

Nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery and consist of many sizes and chemical compositions. They can accommodate a diverse population of drugs and can be made to target specific areas of the body. Fabrication methods generally follow either top-down or bottom-up manufacturing techniques, which have differing production controls, which determine nanoparticle characteristics including but not limited to size and encapsulation efficiency. Functionalizing these nanoparticles is done to add drugs, prevent aggregation, add positive charge, add targeting, etc. As the nanoparticles reach the target cells, cellular uptake occurs, drug is released, and the nanoparticle is broken down. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles have often been used for drug delivery applications as they have shown minimal toxicity, which has helped with US FDA approval. This review breaks down PLGA nanoparticle fabrication, functionalization, and biological considerations.