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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites
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Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological and Bio- Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2021) | Viewed by 10093

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luigi Botta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, RU INSTM of Palermo, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze ed.6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: polymer composites and nanocomposites; polymer blends; bioplastics; rheology; degradation and stabilization of polymer systems; antimicrobial polymeric systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polylactide (PLA) can be considered as one of the most attractive biopolymers due to its physical properties, renewability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Moreover, PLA can be processed using a large number of techniques and it is commercially available in a wide range of grades, making it suitable for multiple applications—from packaging to biomedical devices. Nevertheless, the broad use of PLA is often restricted by the necessity of improving some functional properties. An effective way to improve the properties of PLA, and thus enhance its commercial potential, is through the incorporation of particles or fibers—including natural fibers and nanosized particles—in the development of polymer blends or hybrid systems.

The scope of this Special Issue is to present the current state-of-the-art in the use of PLA-based systems for different fields of applications and, in particular, PLA-based blends, composites, and nanocomposites. This Special Issue of Biomolecules aims to publish high-quality papers covering the most recent advances, as well as comprehensive reviews addressing the novel and state-of-the-art methodology of active researchers in the development of PLA-based hybrid systems, concerning synthesis, preparation, characterization and, in particular, the applications of such materials with outstanding performance.

Dr. Luigi Botta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • PLA
  • Hybrid systems
  • Biomedical applications
  • Tissue engineering
  • Drug release

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1384 KiB  
Article
Influence of Lactic Acid Surface Modification of Cellulose Nanofibrils on the Properties of Cellulose Nanofibril Films and Cellulose Nanofibril–Poly(lactic acid) Composites
by Ruth Anayimi Lafia-Araga, Ronald Sabo, Omid Nabinejad, Laurent Matuana and Nicole Stark
Biomolecules 2021, 11(9), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11091346 - 11 Sep 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2273
Abstract
In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were modified by catalyzed lactic acid esterification in an aqueous medium with SnCl2 as a catalyst. Films were made from unmodified and lactic acid-modified CNF without a polymer matrix to evaluate the effectiveness of the modification. [...] Read more.
In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were modified by catalyzed lactic acid esterification in an aqueous medium with SnCl2 as a catalyst. Films were made from unmodified and lactic acid-modified CNF without a polymer matrix to evaluate the effectiveness of the modification. Ungrafted and lactic acid-grafted CNF was also compounded with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to produce composites. Mechanical, water absorption, and barrier properties were evaluated for ungrafted CNF, lactic acid-grafted CNF films, and PLA/CNF composites to ascertain the effect of lactic acid modification on the properties of the films and nanocomposites. FTIR spectra of the modified CNF revealed the presence of carbonyl peaks at 1720 cm−1, suggesting that the esterification reaction was successful. Modification of CNF with LA improved the tensile modulus of the produced films but the tensile strength and elongation decreased. Additionally, films made from modified CNF had lower water absorption, as well as water vapor and oxygen permeability, relative to their counterparts with unmodified CNFs. The mechanical properties of PLA/CNF composites made from lactic acid-grafted CNFs did not significantly change with respect to the ungrafted CNF. However, the addition of lactic acid-grafted CNF to PLA improved the water vapor permeability relative to composites containing ungrafted CNF. Therefore, the esterification of CNFs in an aqueous medium may provide an environmentally benign way of modifying the surface chemistry of CNFs to improve the barrier properties of CNF films and PLA/CNF composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites)
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19 pages, 5736 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Basalt Fibres with ZnO Nanorods and Its Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PLA-Based Composites
by Francesca Sbardella, Andrea Martinelli, Valerio Di Lisio, Irene Bavasso, Pietro Russo, Jacopo Tirillò and Fabrizio Sarasini
Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020200 - 01 Feb 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2763
Abstract
The composites based on basalt fibres and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) show promising applications in biomedical and automotive fields, but their mechanical performance is still largely hindered by poor interfacial properties. Zinc oxide nanorods have been successfully used to tune the PLA/basalt fibre interface [...] Read more.
The composites based on basalt fibres and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) show promising applications in biomedical and automotive fields, but their mechanical performance is still largely hindered by poor interfacial properties. Zinc oxide nanorods have been successfully used to tune the PLA/basalt fibre interface by growing them on commercially available basalt fabrics. The hierarchical fibres significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of PLA-based composites, especially their flexural strength and stiffness. These values are 26% and 22% higher than those of unmodified basalt/PLA composites, and 24% and 34% higher than those of glass/PLA composites used as a baseline. The increase in tensile and flexural properties hinges on the mechanical interlocking action promoted by ZnO nanorods and on the creation of a compact transcrystallinity structure. A degradation of PLA matrix was detected but it was positively counteracted by the better interfacial stress transfer. This study offers a novel approach for modifying the fibre–matrix interface of biocomposites intended for high-performance applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites)
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19 pages, 4898 KiB  
Article
Effect of a Bio-Based Dispersing Aid (Einar® 101) on PLA-Arbocel® Biocomposites: Evaluation of the Interfacial Shear Stress on the Final Mechanical Properties
by Laura Aliotta, Vito Gigante, Patrizia Cinelli, Maria-Beatrice Coltelli and Andrea Lazzeri
Biomolecules 2020, 10(11), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10111549 - 13 Nov 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1928
Abstract
In this paper, the production and the characterization of poly (lactic) acid (PLA)-based composites containing different amounts (from 10 wt.% to 25 wt.%) of ultra-short cellulose fibers (Arbocel 600 BE/PU) have been investigated. On the basis of a previous study, it was observed [...] Read more.
In this paper, the production and the characterization of poly (lactic) acid (PLA)-based composites containing different amounts (from 10 wt.% to 25 wt.%) of ultra-short cellulose fibers (Arbocel 600 BE/PU) have been investigated. On the basis of a previous study, it was observed that the addition of the cellulose fibers led to an embrittlement of the composite. Consequently, in order to obtain a composite with enhanced impact resistance and elongation at break, the effect of the Einar 101 addition (a bio-based dispersing aid additive) was analyzed. The role of the adhesion between the fiber and the matrix, coupled with a better fiber dispersion, was thus evaluated. Also, the consequences on the final mechanical properties (tensile and impact test) caused by the Einar addition were investigated. Analytical models were also applied in order to obtain an evaluation of the variation of the interfacial shear stress (IFSS) (strictly correlated to the fiber-matrix adhesion) caused by the Einar introduction. Furthermore, due to the very low aspect ratio of the Arbocel fibers, a suitable Bader and Boyer model variation was adopted in order to have a better quantitative estimation of the IFSS value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites)
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13 pages, 5011 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Application of a Thermoplastic Plate of Poly(lactide-ε-caprolactone) for Radiation Therapy
by Hongli Li, Wenzhi Li, Hongtao Wu, Dengbang Jiang, Mingwei Yuan and Minglong Yuan
Biomolecules 2020, 10(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10010027 - 24 Dec 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2616
Abstract
In this study, the poly(lactide-ε-caprolactone) (P(LA-CL)) copolymer is synthesized by ring-opening polymerization with glycol used as a molecular weight regulator to adjust the molecular weight of the polymer. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results demonstrate that the [...] Read more.
In this study, the poly(lactide-ε-caprolactone) (P(LA-CL)) copolymer is synthesized by ring-opening polymerization with glycol used as a molecular weight regulator to adjust the molecular weight of the polymer. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results demonstrate that the P(LA-CL) copolymer is successfully synthesized, and that the molecular weight can be controlled by the glycol content. The thermoplastic plate is processed with triallyl isocyanurate as a cross-linking agent by a single-screw extruder followed by γ-ray irradiation. Shape memory test results show that the material had the desired shape memory effect, with deformation recovery rates reaching 100%. After secondary stretching of samples, deformation recovery rates are unchanged. The results of mechanical property measurements indicate that with added lactide, the tensile strength is improved and shore hardness is increased by 20%–30%. Data from clinical trials also reveal that the material has good clinical effects in thermoplastic membrane fixation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polylactide: Blends, Composites, and Nanocomposites)
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