Duale, KhadarSikorska, WandaMusioł, MartaJaneczek, HenrykGodzierz, MarcinMarcinkowski, AndrzejKowalczuk, MarekRadecka, IzaGupta, AbhishekPeptu, CristianRydz, Joanna2025-05-022025-05-022025-05-07Duale, K, Sikorska, W, Musiol, M, Janeczek, H, et al (2025) Randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin as a modifier in PBAT/PLA-based films: Stability and crystallinity evaluation, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 239 (September 2025), Article no. 1113990141-391010.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111399https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/625934This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Polymer Degradation and Stability on 07/05/2025, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111399 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.The poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate)/polylactide (PBAT/PLA) have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to their excellent (bio)degradability. In this study, the PBAT/PLA-based films with and without randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD) were prepared using solvent-casting and pressing techniques to evaluate the physiochemical and degradation properties of the obtained films. The characterisation of PBAT/PLA-based films was conducted by using microscopes (optical and AFM), GPC, DSC, and XRD measurements. In addition, degradation tests in water at 37 and 70 °C were conducted under abiotic conditions for 70 days. The research revealed that the addition of RM-β-CD resulted in shifts in the glass transition temperature and greater ordering of PBAT/PLA-based films as well as a slight decrease in cytocompatibility. However, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity studies performed did not reveal any risks for their possible applications. Analysis of the degradation progress showed that at 37°C a slight molar mass loss for solvent-cast films and a slightly higher loss for solvent-cast films with RM-β-CD were noticed. No changes were observed in the more ordered pressed films. Hydrolytic degradation of all PBAT/PLA-based films during incubation at 70°C resulted in a continuous decrease in the molar mass. Solvent-cast films are characterised by poor miscibility and phase separation, resulting in high roughness. However, the higher temperature during degradation and generally the addition of RM-β-CD to the polymer matrix improved their miscibility.application/pdfenrandomly methylated β-cyclodextrinpoly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate)polylactidePBAT/PLAEcovio®hydrolytic degradationJournal articlePolymer Degradation and Stability111399