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Abstract: Maleic anhydride (MAH), trans cinnamic acid (AcCin) and ethyl cinnamate (EtCin) were radically graft onto poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). Samples were prepared in Brabender at 175 °C by addition of increasing amounts of MAH, AcCin, EtCin and their combinations, i.e. MAH/AcCin and MAH/EtCin, setting DCP content in the 0.2–0.6 wt% range. Monomer grafting was quantitatively determined by FT-IR. MAH grafting degrees (FDM) resulted up to 1 mol%. Conversely, AcCin grafting degrees (FDA) were found almost negligible in all cases. EtCin was found grafted in the 0.3–1.0 mol% range when the binary system MAH/EtCin was applied. Same MAH feeds returned almost doubled MAH grafting degrees (FDM) when AcCin was the stoichiometric co-agent, and even three times higher FDM when EtCin was the stoichiometric co-agent. On accounts of all the collected results, a kinetic model of the investigated systems is proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Immobilizing natural antioxidant and biologically active molecules in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) is an excellent method to retain and release these substances in a controlled manner, as well as protect them from thermal and photochemical degradation. Herein, we describe the preparation of host–guest systems based on LDHs and rosmarinic and glycyrrhetinic acids, two molecules obtained from the extraction of herbs and licorice root, respectively, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Intercalation between the lamellae of the mono-deprotonated anions of rosmarinic and glycyrrhetinic acid (RA and GA), alone or in the presence of an alkyl surfactant, allows for readily dispersible systems in biobased polymer matrices such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and a 60/40 wt./wt. PLA/PBS blend. The composites based on the PLA/PBS blend showed better interphase compatibility than the neat blend, correlated with increased adhesion at the interface and a decreased dispersed phase size. In addition, we proved that the active species migrate slowly from thin films of the composite materials in a hydroalcoholic solvent, confirming the optimization of the release process. Finally, both host–guest systems and polymeric composites showed antioxidant capacity and, in the case of the PLA composite containing LDH-RA, excellent inhibitory capacity against E. coli and S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]