Preparation of poly(L-lactide) blends and biodegradation by Lentzea waywayandensis.

As a biodegradable polyester, polylactide (PLA) has applications as a packaging material, in biomedical fields and tissue engineering. With the dual aim of improving its properties and biodegradability, PLA was blended with other polymers such as gum arabic, thermoplastic starch, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol and polyhydroxy butyrate in 1:1 (w/w) by melt-blending technique. The thermal properties of the blends were compared with that of unblended PLA by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Biodegradation using Lentzea waywayandensis was in the order of PLA-gum arabic > PLA-thermoplastic starch > PLA(virgin) > PLA-microcrystalline cellulose > PLA-polyethylene glycol > PLA-polyhydroxy butyrate. Weight loss of 99 % (w/w) was noted within 4 days for PLA-thermoplastic starch and PLA-gum arabic blends.