Polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan composites and their blend nanocomposites: A review

Motloung, Mpho Phillip and Mochane, Mokgaotsa Jonas (2025) Polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan composites and their blend nanocomposites: A review. EXPRESS POLYMER LETTERS, 19 (11). pp. 1092-1132. ISSN 1788-618X

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Abstract

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used biopolymers, and it has demonstrated a huge potential for replacing some of the conventional plastics in certain application fields. However, due to a lack of other attributes such as antimicrobial properties and slow degradation rates, it is often blended with other polymers to impart these properties. Chitosan has desirable features including antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, biodegradability and biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness. Thus, it is widely blended with PLA to generate materials that can be applied in various fields. In recent years, PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites have been produced to develop sustainable and ecofriendly materials that can be suitable in active food packaging, water treatment, air filtration, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in the development of PLA/chitosan blend composites and nanocomposites for various applications. The processing strategies, mechanical and thermal properties, together with utilization in biomedical, air filtration, water treatment, and packaging applications, are provided.

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