Polylactic acid (PLA) with its unique intrinsic property (stereochemical compositions, L- and D-PLA) provides opportunities for controlled release packaging. PLA can either be amorphous or semicrystalline depends on amount and ratio of L&D, which are the determining factors of its final properties. For controlled release applications, PLA film with high crystallinity is expected to deliver slow release due to packed-well-arranged crystal structure, whereas film with amorphous structure delivers fast release due to molecules chain mobility.PLA containing different L&D were utilized using solvent casting method to produce the films. Films were dried at 8 and 10g/hr and annealed at 120 �C for 4 hours. Release kinetics of tocopherol shows a wide range of release profiles (5 to 100%) and broad diffusivity (2.42X10-19 to 8.68X10-16 cm2 s-1). Therefore, it was concluded that PLA as a single polymer delivers a wide range of release profiles that could be used for different applications.

Effects of stereochemical composition and processing conditions of poly(lactic acid) on release kinetics of tocopherol: Application in controlled release packaging

244th National Meeting (2012)

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