Poly(l-lactide) and poly(butylene succinate) immiscible blends: From electrospinning to biologically active materials

• Solvent-nonsolvent approach enables electrospinning of immiscible PLA/PBS blends
• Fibrous materials maintain integrity in contrast to cast films
• The mechanical properties depend on PBS content and collector rotation speed
• PBS acts as plasticizer for PLA and increases its crystallinity
• Drug-loaded PLA/PBS mats exhibit antibacterial properties against S. aureus

For the first time the preparation of defect-free fibers from immiscible blends of high molar mass poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) in the whole range of the polyester weight ratios is shown. Electrospinning using the solvent–nonsolvent approach proved most appropriate. Moreover, electrospinning revealed crucial for the obtaining of PLA/PBS materials maintaining integrity. DSC and XRD analyses attested for a plasticizing effect and for increased PLA crystallinity at PBS addition to PLA. The mechanical properties of the PLA/PBS mats were controlled by the alignment of the fibers and changed from plastic to brittle materials upon increasing the PBS content. Drug loading and tests against pathogenic microorganisms suggested that the obtained mats can find application as antibacterial fibrous materials.

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