Abstract Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is an important biomaterial with its easy availability and wide spread acceptability in biomedical field. The most appreciable characteristic nature of PLA is its versatility itself, even though certain drawbacks of PLA like hydrophobicity, lack of reactive functional groups, poor toughness and slow biodegradation rates limits its uses in various sectors. Therefore in the past few decades research interests have grown to overcome these limitations. Many researchers have reported different physical and chemical modifications for augmenting the inherent properties of PLA so that its applications can be widened. Generally, methods such as copolymerization, blending, incorporation of chemicals or additives, plasma treatment were executed in order to enhance its property. Out of these, copolymerization method is the one favored by most researchers. Moreover PLA copolymers can also be used in biomedical field too. Therefore, extensive research works were conducted on copolymerization method. However, to the best of our knowledge, an overview focusing mainly on the properties of PLA modified by copolymerization technique was not yet reviewed till date. This review article summarizes the chemical modifications of PLA through copolymerization technique along with the characterization methods used for the confirmation of copolymer formation and various enhanced properties and their applications in biomedical field are discussed.

中文翻译：

---

通过共聚对 PLA 进行化学改性

摘要 聚乳酸（PLA）是一种重要的生物材料，在生物医学领域具有容易获得和广泛接受的特点。PLA 最显着的特性是其多功能性本身，尽管 PLA 的某些缺点（如疏水性、缺乏反应性官能团、韧性差和生物降解速度慢）限制了其在各个领域的应用。因此，在过去的几十年里，研究兴趣不断增长，以克服这些限制。许多研究人员报告了不同的物理和化学改性，以增强 PLA 的固有特性，从而扩大其应用范围。一般采用共聚、共混、掺入化学品或添加剂、等离子处理等方法来提高其性能。其中，共聚方法是大多数研究人员青睐的一种方法。此外，PLA共聚物也可用于生物医学领域。因此，对共聚方法进行了广泛的研究工作。然而，据我们所知，迄今为止还没有对主要集中在共聚技术改性的 PLA 性能的概述进行审查。这篇综述文章总结了通过共聚技术对 PLA 进行化学改性，并讨论了用于确认共聚物形成和各种增强性能的表征方法及其在生物医学领域的应用。据我们所知，迄今为止还没有对主要集中在共聚技术改性的 PLA 性能的概述进行审查。这篇综述文章总结了通过共聚技术对 PLA 进行化学改性，并讨论了用于确认共聚物形成和各种增强性能的表征方法及其在生物医学领域的应用。据我们所知，迄今为止还没有对主要集中在共聚技术改性的 PLA 性能的概述进行审查。这篇综述文章总结了通过共聚技术对 PLA 进行化学改性，并讨论了用于确认共聚物形成和各种增强性能的表征方法及其在生物医学领域的应用。