Biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid)/TiO2 nanocomposites: Thermal properties and degradation
(2187–2193)Journal of Applied Polymer  Science 123 #4 (2012)
Buzarovska and Grozdanov of St Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia, produced poly(L-lactic acid)-titanium dioxide nanocomposites (with various loadings of TiO2: 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 wt %) by solution casting method.  The TiO2 nano filler has no significant influence on the characteristic temperatures (Tg, Tc, and Tm), but has high impact on the crystallinity of these systems.  The degree of crystallinity Xc significantly increases for PLA nanocomposites loaded with up to 5 wt % of TiO2, while for 10 wt % load of TiO2 it drops below Xc of the pure resin.  Hydrolytic degradation was confirmed with the increase of the filler content. The opposite effect was identified in enzymatic degradation experiments.  (RDC 11/2/2011)

Poly(l-lactic acid) Metal Organic Framework Composites. Mass Transport Properties
(11136–11142) Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 50 #19 (2011)
Elangovan et al of Michigan State University, Michigan and the University of Agriculture Science, India, developed biodegradable multifunctional polymeric membranes based on poly(l-lactic acid), PLLA, and metal–organic framework compounds (MOFs).  The sorption capacity of the PLLA–MOF composite films increased up to 2-fold at each relative humidity to which it was exposed when compared with the PLLA films. The sorption and desorption curves of the PLLA–MOF films show hysteresis. The presence of MOF in the composite films did not significantly modify the permeability coefficients of the PLLA–MOF films. (RDC 10/11/2011)