Biocomposite foams from poly(lactic acid) and rubber wood sawdust: Mechanical properties,cytotoxicity, and in vitro degradation

The objectives of this work were to seek a simple method for preparation of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) foams and evaluate properties of these foams for scaffold application. Using a typical blowing agent and compression molding, biocomposite foams were successfully prepared from a PLA/rubber wood sawdust (PLA/RWS) blend. Selection of RWS for the biocomposites was based on particle size. RWS particles in two size ranges were used: 212–600 μm and ≤75 μm. Alkaline and silane treatments were applied to the RWS before blending with PLA. The tensile properties, Izod impact strength, foam morphology, and thermal degradation of the biocomposite foams were evaluated. Cytotoxicity and in vitro degradation were tested to determine the potential of the biocomposite foam for use as a scaffold in tissue engineering. Silane treatment improved mechanical properties by increasing the interfacial adhesion between PLA and RWS. The density and void fraction of the foam samples had a greater effect on mechanical properties than pore size. Proliferation of MG-63 cells increased with culture time, indicating that the foam samples were not cytotoxic. Promising samples were tested for degradation in a lysozyme/phosphate-buffered saline and showed a slow rate of in vitro degradation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48259.