PDLA

PDLA (poly-D-lactic acid) is a semi-crystalline, thermoplastic polyester derived from lactic acid, belonging to the polylactide family of biopolymers. It is widely used in biomedical applications such as orthopedic fixation devices, surgical sutures, and tissue engineering scaffolds due to its biocompatibility and controlled degradation profile. Engineers select PDLA over conventional polymers when biodegradability is critical, particularly in implantable devices where polymer removal surgery can be avoided, though its relatively modest thermal stability and mechanical performance limit its use in high-temperature or load-bearing structural applications compared to petroleum-based engineering plastics.