This PhD project investigated the effects of a co-continuous phase structure on the ductility of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends. An empirical model was used to predict the phase inversion point of the blends. The co-continuous phase morphology was first observed in polybutylene succinate(PBS)/PLA blends. With as little as 10 wt% of PBS, PBS/PLA blends achieved a dramatic improvement in ductility, over 250% elongation-to-break. Clay additives were incorporated in PBS/PLA blends. Clay was found out to affect the compatibility and co-continuous phase morphology of PBS/PLA blends. The clay dispersion was found to have an intercalated and exfoliated structure at a PBS/PLA composition ratio of 20/80. The clay particles increased the mixing conditions between the polymers by producing a finer structure, but also destroyed the co-continuous phase morphology, resulting in a substantial decrease in elongation-at-break. PLA was then blended with Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) to examine whether the co-continuous phase model could also be applied to other PLA-polymer blends. From the melt viscosity ratio of PLA and PBAT in the processing regime used in the study, the predicted phase inversion value was 19 wt% of PBAT. This value was verified by the results of mechanical properties, where results for elongation-to-break show a dramatic rise from around 10% up to 300% in the composition range between 10 and 20wt% of PBAT. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) was also blended with PLA and this project investigated how co-continuous phase morphology affects the blends of two brittle polymers. It was found that when PHA content ranged from 10 to 20wt%, the brittle-brittle polymer blends showed ductile behaviour due to a plane stress effect.

A primeira etapa deste estudo foi o processamento de amido de milho com diferentes proporções de glicerol, água e epicloridrina (EPI) utilizando reômetro de torque. Após a avaliação visual das amostras obtidas, definiu-se pela proporção com 30 g de amido, 24g de glicerol, 6g de água e 0,6g de EPI para ser produzida em extrusora reativa. O material resultante foi denominado como TPSR sendo posteriormente utilizado como carga para ser dispersa em matriz poli (acido lático) (PLA) para a obtenção de blendas de PLA/TPSR. As blendas de PLA/TPSR foram preparadas por extrusão com proporções de 5%,10% e 30% de TPSR em relação à quantidade de massa da matriz PLA e que neste estudo são denominadas respectivamente como PLA/TPSR5, PLA/TPSR10 e PLA/TPSR30. A morfologia, propriedades térmicas e propriedades mecânicas das blendas obtidas foram avaliadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), análise termo-dinâmico mecânica (DMA) e ensaio de impacto IZOD. As blendas apresentaram em sua morfologia poros, cavidades e grânulos de amido residual aumentando sua presença em função da quantidade de TPSR, o que indica um baixo nível de interação entre PLA e TPSR e que pode ser relacionado à diminuição da resistência ao impacto. Resultados de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) permitiram verificar que a Tg e Tm das misturas diminuiu com o acréscimo da carga TPSR na matriz PLA. A mesma tendência foi observada nas curvas de TGA que revelaram que as blendas de PLA/TPSR decompõem-se mais facilmente e a menores faixas de temperatura. O módulo de armazenamento aumentou para blendas com 5% e 10% de TPSR e diminuiu drasticamente para PLA/TPSR30. / The first step of this study was corn starch processing with different proportions of glycerol, water and epichlorohydrin (EPI) using a torque rheometer. After the visual evaluation of the samples, the proportion defined was 30 g of starch, 24 g of glycerol, 6 g of water and 0.6 g of EPI to be produced in reactive extruder. The resulting material was designated as TPSR subsequently used as filler to be dispersed in matrix poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to obtain PLA / TPSR blends. The blends of PLA / TPSR were prepared by extrusion with proportions of 5%, 10% and 30% of TPSR with relation to the amount of mass of the PLA array and that in this study are respectively referred as PLA / TPSR5, PLA / TPSR10 and PLA / TPSR30. The morphology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the resulting blends were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), thermo-dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and IZOD impact test. The blends had pores, cavities and residual starch granule in its morphology, increasing its presence due to the amount of TPSR, which indicates a low level of interaction between PLA and TPSR and that can be related to a decrease in impact resistance. Differential scanning calorimetry results (DSC) helped confirm that the Tg and Tm of the mixtures decreased with TPSR load increase in PLA matrix. The same trend was observed in the TGA curves that showed that the blends of PLA / TPSR decompose more easily and at lower temperature ranges. The storage modulus increased in blends with 5% and 10% and dramatically decreased to TPSR PLA / TPSR30.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Letras, Departamento de Linguística, Português e Línguas Clássicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Linguística, 2017. / Submitted by Raquel Almeida (raquel.df13@gmail.com) on 2017-12-13T19:26:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JhessykadeBessaCotrim.pdf: 5461077 bytes, checksum: 7095d6b8224cac2b6a979638662d007b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana (raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2018-02-15T17:40:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JhessykadeBessaCotrim.pdf: 5461077 bytes, checksum: 7095d6b8224cac2b6a979638662d007b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-15T17:40:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JhessykadeBessaCotrim.pdf: 5461077 bytes, checksum: 7095d6b8224cac2b6a979638662d007b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-15 / Nesta dissertação investigo, nas produções escritas de aprendizes de português brasileiro como língua adicional, o uso de estratégias de referenciação como forma de revelar o nível de letramento escrito desses aprendizes. Este trabalho insere-se no campo da Linguística Textual, com interface em aspectos da sociocognição, por considerar o sujeito como um ser situado socialmente que participa das práticas sociais e, ao mesmo tempo, utilizar-se de práticas letradas para expressar a realidade. Os trabalhos de Mondada e Dubois (2003), de Koch (2010, 2012, 2015), de Marcuschi (1983) e de Cavalcante (2012) constituem o aporte teórico que me possibilita realizar incursões no campo da Linguística Textual, sobretudo, nos processos de referenciação. Aproprio-me das contribuições de Street (2014), de Soares (2014), de Rojo (2009, 2013) e de Kleiman (2008), porque apresentam discussões concernentes ao campo de estudo sobre letramentos, no qual a leitura e a produção textual são entendidas como práticas sociais. Utilizo o conceito de contexto por meio das discussões promovidas nas obras de Van Dijk (2012) e de Gumperz (1982), cujo o diálogo entre as visões sociocognitivista e antropológica constituem fundamento adequado ao nosso aporte teórico. O caminho metodológico traçado fundamenta-se na pesquisa de base qualitativa, no viés da análise documental, pois essa conduta metodológica permite ao pesquisador uma análise reflexiva e interpretativa dos dados. O corpus deste estudo é composto por atividades de produção escrita, realizadas por colaboradores falantes de outras línguasque foram apresentados ao português brasileiro como língua adicional. Os resultados apontam na direção de que a referenciação concorre para a inserção dos colaboradores no campo do letramento ideológico, porque oferece subsídios para que eles possam construir e reconstruir suas visões e suas posições ideologicamente marcadas por meio da introdução, retomada e desfocalização de objetos de discurso. / In this thesis, I investigate, in the written productions of Brazilian Portuguese as Additional language apprentices, the usage of referral strategies as a way to reveal these apprentices’ level of writing literacy skills. This essay is inserted in the Textual Linguistics field, with interface in aspects of the social cognition, due to the fact that an individual is considered as a socially located being, who participates in social practices and, at the same time, uses literate practices to express reality. The works of Mondada and Dubois (2003), Koch (2010, 2012, 2015), Marcuschi (1983), and Cavalcante (2012) are the theoretical support used to explore the Textual Linguistics field, moreover, in the Referrencing Processes. I also take the contributions from Street (2014), Soares (2014), Rojo (2009, 2013), and Kleiman (2008) because they present discussions concerning studies in the Literacy Field, in which reading and textual production are understood as social practices. I also use the concept of context through discussions available in the works of Van Dijk (2012) and Gumperz (1982a), respectively. The methodology is based on qualitative research focusing on documentary analysis, because this method allows the researcher to have a reflective and interpretative analysis of the data. The corpus of this study covers written production activities, made by collaborators who are speakers of other languages and who were exposed to Brazilian Portuguese as Additional Language. The results point towards Referrencing being a determining process for the collaborators’ insertion into ideological literacy, because it offers subside for them to be able to build and rebuild their visions and positions ideologically marked through the introduction, retaking, and defocusing of speech objects.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:12:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6328.pdf: 3719747 bytes, checksum: 5cd3410e5179f615f91f595a93c8ff97 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-18 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The chemical modification of PLA with maleic anhydride by reactive processing and the extent of reaction and degradation reactions, were studied. Routes of grafting reaction of maleic anhydride in PLA were evaluated. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP), as initiator, and maleic anhydride (MA) for modification of the PLA, were used. Acidity levels of the compositions were obtained by titration technique of the acid groups and observed an increase in acidity of the modified PLA s, with steep increase in the sample of PLA-g-MA, produced in the presence of DCP. During the PLA modification, with MA, was observed a reduction of 45% in Mn, measured by SEC. In order to analyse the reaction routes, PLA/PBAT blends were produced. Compatibilization of the blend was performed by two ways, one using in situ PLA/PBAT modification and the other using a pre-modified PLA (PLA-g-MA). A blend without MA (PLA/PBAT) was used as reference. In according with the observed mechanical behavior, a synergic effect is observed for PLA-g-MA/PBAT blend, despite low molecular weight of PLA matrix. / Neste trabalho estudou-se a modificação química do PLA com anidrido maleico, por processamento reativo. Para tal, as rotas de reação de enxertia de anidrido maleico em PLA, foram avaliadas. Utilizou-se o peróxido de dicumila (DCP) como iniciador e anidrido maleico (MA) para modificação do PLA. Os teores de acidez das composições foram obtidos através da técnica de titulação dos grupos ácidos e observou-se um aumento no teor de acidez nas amostras de PLA modificados, sendo esse aumento mais intenso na amostra de PLA-g-MA, produzido na presença de DCP. Além disso, as reações de modificação causaram elevada degradação do PLA, reduzindo em aproximadamente 45 % a massa molar numérica média (Mn), valor medido através de cromatografia por exclusão de tamanho (SEC). Para a compreensão de qual rota de modificação foi mais adequada para melhorar a compatibilidade do PLA com outro poliéster, blendas de PLA/PBAT (70:30) foram produzidas. Produziram-se a blenda PLA/PBAT sem compatibilizante como referência, a blenda PLA-g-MA/PBAT na qual utiliza a matriz de PLA já modificada previamente e a blenda in situ, na qual a modificação química acontece simultaneamente ao processamento. Os resultados indicam que a modificação do PLA com anidrido maleico com subsequente mistura com o PBAT (formando a blenda PLA-g-MA/PBAT) foi a rota mais adequada para obtenção das melhores propriedades mecânicas, apesar da baixa massa molar da matriz de PLA-g-MA.

A primeira etapa deste estudo foi o processamento de amido de milho com diferentes proporções de glicerol, água e epicloridrina (EPI) utilizando reômetro de torque. Após a avaliação visual das amostras obtidas, definiu-se pela proporção com 30 g de amido, 24g de glicerol, 6g de água e 0,6g de EPI para ser produzida em extrusora reativa. O material resultante foi denominado como TPSR sendo posteriormente utilizado como carga para ser dispersa em matriz poli (acido lático) (PLA) para a obtenção de blendas de PLA/TPSR. As blendas de PLA/TPSR foram preparadas por extrusão com proporções de 5%,10% e 30% de TPSR em relação à quantidade de massa da matriz PLA e que neste estudo são denominadas respectivamente como PLA/TPSR5, PLA/TPSR10 e PLA/TPSR30. A morfologia, propriedades térmicas e propriedades mecânicas das blendas obtidas foram avaliadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), análise termo-dinâmico mecânica (DMA) e ensaio de impacto IZOD. As blendas apresentaram em sua morfologia poros, cavidades e grânulos de amido residual aumentando sua presença em função da quantidade de TPSR, o que indica um baixo nível de interação entre PLA e TPSR e que pode ser relacionado à diminuição da resistência ao impacto. Resultados de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) permitiram verificar que a Tg e Tm das misturas diminuiu com o acréscimo da carga TPSR na matriz PLA. A mesma tendência foi observada nas curvas de TGA que revelaram que as blendas de PLA/TPSR decompõem-se mais facilmente e a menores faixas de temperatura. O módulo de armazenamento aumentou para blendas com 5% e 10% de TPSR e diminuiu drasticamente para PLA/TPSR30. / The first step of this study was corn starch processing with different proportions of glycerol, water and epichlorohydrin (EPI) using a torque rheometer. After the visual evaluation of the samples, the proportion defined was 30 g of starch, 24 g of glycerol, 6 g of water and 0.6 g of EPI to be produced in reactive extruder. The resulting material was designated as TPSR subsequently used as filler to be dispersed in matrix poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to obtain PLA / TPSR blends. The blends of PLA / TPSR were prepared by extrusion with proportions of 5%, 10% and 30% of TPSR with relation to the amount of mass of the PLA array and that in this study are respectively referred as PLA / TPSR5, PLA / TPSR10 and PLA / TPSR30. The morphology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the resulting blends were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), thermo-dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and IZOD impact test. The blends had pores, cavities and residual starch granule in its morphology, increasing its presence due to the amount of TPSR, which indicates a low level of interaction between PLA and TPSR and that can be related to a decrease in impact resistance. Differential scanning calorimetry results (DSC) helped confirm that the Tg and Tm of the mixtures decreased with TPSR load increase in PLA matrix. The same trend was observed in the TGA curves that showed that the blends of PLA / TPSR decompose more easily and at lower temperature ranges. The storage modulus increased in blends with 5% and 10% and dramatically decreased to TPSR PLA / TPSR30.

A primeira etapa deste estudo foi o processamento de amido de milho com diferentes proporções de glicerol, água e epicloridrina (EPI) utilizando reômetro de torque. Após a avaliação visual das amostras obtidas, definiu-se pela proporção com 30 g de amido, 24g de glicerol, 6g de água e 0,6g de EPI para ser produzida em extrusora reativa. O material resultante foi denominado como TPSR sendo posteriormente utilizado como carga para ser dispersa em matriz poli (acido lático) (PLA) para a obtenção de blendas de PLA/TPSR. As blendas de PLA/TPSR foram preparadas por extrusão com proporções de 5%,10% e 30% de TPSR em relação à quantidade de massa da matriz PLA e que neste estudo são denominadas respectivamente como PLA/TPSR5, PLA/TPSR10 e PLA/TPSR30. A morfologia, propriedades térmicas e propriedades mecânicas das blendas obtidas foram avaliadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), análise termo-dinâmico mecânica (DMA) e ensaio de impacto IZOD. As blendas apresentaram em sua morfologia poros, cavidades e grânulos de amido residual aumentando sua presença em função da quantidade de TPSR, o que indica um baixo nível de interação entre PLA e TPSR e que pode ser relacionado à diminuição da resistência ao impacto. Resultados de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) permitiram verificar que a Tg e Tm das misturas diminuiu com o acréscimo da carga TPSR na matriz PLA. A mesma tendência foi observada nas curvas de TGA que revelaram que as blendas de PLA/TPSR decompõem-se mais facilmente e a menores faixas de temperatura. O módulo de armazenamento aumentou para blendas com 5% e 10% de TPSR e diminuiu drasticamente para PLA/TPSR30. / The first step of this study was corn starch processing with different proportions of glycerol, water and epichlorohydrin (EPI) using a torque rheometer. After the visual evaluation of the samples, the proportion defined was 30 g of starch, 24 g of glycerol, 6 g of water and 0.6 g of EPI to be produced in reactive extruder. The resulting material was designated as TPSR subsequently used as filler to be dispersed in matrix poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to obtain PLA / TPSR blends. The blends of PLA / TPSR were prepared by extrusion with proportions of 5%, 10% and 30% of TPSR with relation to the amount of mass of the PLA array and that in this study are respectively referred as PLA / TPSR5, PLA / TPSR10 and PLA / TPSR30. The morphology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the resulting blends were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), thermo-dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and IZOD impact test. The blends had pores, cavities and residual starch granule in its morphology, increasing its presence due to the amount of TPSR, which indicates a low level of interaction between PLA and TPSR and that can be related to a decrease in impact resistance. Differential scanning calorimetry results (DSC) helped confirm that the Tg and Tm of the mixtures decreased with TPSR load increase in PLA matrix. The same trend was observed in the TGA curves that showed that the blends of PLA / TPSR decompose more easily and at lower temperature ranges. The storage modulus increased in blends with 5% and 10% and dramatically decreased to TPSR PLA / TPSR30.

The awareness of environmental sustainability drives the composite industry to utilize natural fibres. Natural fibres are a readily available resource with a relatively low price. In this study natural fibre flax reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites were made using a new technique incorporating an air-laying nonwoven process. Flax and PLA fibres were blended and converted to fibre webs in the air-laying process. Composite prepregs were then made from the fibre webs. The prepregs were finally converted to composites by compression moulding. The relationship between the main process variables and the properties of the biocomposite was investigated. It was found that with increasing flax content, the mechanical properties increased. As the moulding temperature and moulding time increased, the mechanical properties decreased. The physical, thermal and morphological properties of the biocomposites were also studied. The appropriate processing parameters for the biocomposites were established for different fibre contents. The biodegradability and water absorption properties of the composites were evaluated. The composites were incubated in compost under controlled conditions. The percentage weight loss and the reduction in mechanical properties of PLA and biocomposites were determined at different time intervals. It was found that with increasing flax content, the mechanical properties of the biocomposites decreased more rapidly during the burial trial. The increasing of flax content led to the acceleration of weight loss due to preferential degradation of flax. This was further confirmed by the surface morphology of the biodegraded composites from Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image analysis. This study also investigated the manufacturing of 3D PLA/Flax nonwoven prepregs by using a new system of 3D nonwoven web formation, and 3D biocomposite was made using these prepregs. A new mould unit for web and a new aluminium mould for biocomposite were developed. The physical properties of 3D biocomposites were investigated and it was found that there is no significant difference between 2D and 3D biocomposites in density and void content. The effects of fibre content and processing variables on the crushing behaviour, energy absorption and failure mode of 3D shell biocomposites were experimentally studied.

Conventional plastics have been used for decades in a diverse range of applications, however, many are resistant to degradation, leading to environmental pollution and their manufacture is dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels. Therefore, there has been an increasing need for eco-friendly biodegradable materials from renewable resources. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a compostable polyester with a hydrolysable backbone that is susceptible to biodegradation and produced from renewable feedstocks. PLA has mechanical qualities comparable to non-biodegradable plastics, and currently is commercialized as food-packaging polymer for short shelf-life products. However, while PLA hydrolysis at elevated temperatures proceeds abiotically, ultimately releasing lactic acid and short chain oligomers, the role of microorganisms is unclear. Since PLA short-shelf life products are disposed after use, understanding the role of microorganisms and the effect of degradation on microbial populations in the environment is important. Therefore, the aims of this research was to (a) determine the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors on PLA degradation; (b) to isolate putative fungal PLA degraders from the surface of PLA when buried in compost or soil and to test their ability to degrade PLA; (c) to assess the impact of PLA degradation on fungal communities when entering compost systems. The roles of abiotic and biotic factors in the degradation of high molecular weight PLA were investigated by comparing degradation rates in compost, soil and sterile water at temperatures of 25°, 37°, 45°, 50° and 55°C. Tensile strength loss and molecular weight decline of PLA in microorganism-rich compost and soil were greater than chemical hydrolysis in sterile water at elevated temperatures (above 45°C) indicating microorganisms can directly enhance PLA degradation. Since extensive fungal growth was observed on the surface of PLA when buried in compost and soil, putative fungal PLA degraders were isolated from PLA surface and their community profile on PLA surface was compared with the compost and soil community with a molecular method, terminal restriction fragment polymorphism (TRFLP). Among the identified fungi, Thermomyces lanuginosus was the dominant isolate recovered and shown to enhance PLA degradation in compost at 50°C. The fungal community profile on PLA surface was different than the fungal profile in compost and soil suggesting enrichment for PLA degraders on the surface of PLA. In order to determine the impact of PLA degradation on the fungal compost community, two different high molecular weight PLA sources, films and granules were buried in compost at 10%, 25% and 50% (w/w) concentration for 4 months at 25°C and 50°C and the community profile analysed by TRFLP and pyrosequencing. TRFLP revealed that when PLA did not degrade, the fungal community shifted back toward the initial compost community profile, however, when PLA degraded to its monomers releasing lactic acid at 50°C at a concentration of 50% (w/w) it changed the fungal community profile and decreased the fungal diversity. Pyrosequencing revealed that the presence of PLA enriched for Thermomyces in the compost population over time.

Nowadays, plastic waste poses one of the greatest risks to the environment. Plastics affect the environment at all stages of their life cycle. Bioplastics have become widely used as a substitute for conventional plastics, without detailed examination of their behavior in real environmental conditions. As a result, it is assumed that they can accumulate in the environment and the question arose as to how to identify them. The main goal of this thesis is to develop a method based on sample pyrolysis that is suitable for the identification and determination of the amount of PLA microplastics in soil and other solid matrices. Three types of soils and sludge were used for analysis. These matrices were spiked to obtain concentration ranges 0,2% - 5,0%. The pyrolysis resulted in evolution of gases with the signals m/z 29, 43 and 44, witch originated from PLA and are suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Analysis of PLA in sludge was more complicated due to similarity of gases evolved from pure matrices. We tested three approaches based on analysis of signal´s peak areas, intensities and temperatures of gas evolution. While the first approach failed, the last two approaches appeared to be promising for qualitative and quantitative analysis of PLA in the sludge. Several methods suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis of even very small amounts of PLA in soils and sludge have also been designed/developed. These methods were based on analysis of the composition and dynamics of the released gases and the characterisctic degradation temperatures.

OBJECTIVE: Niacin, activating G-protein coupled receptor (GPR) 109A, stimulates release of vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGs) such as PGE2 which can elicit niacin-associated flushing side effects. Poly-lactic-coglycolic acid (PLGA) and poly-lactic acid (PLA) are used in nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery to reduce adverse effects and modulate drug release. Our study evaluated the in vitro effects of niacin-loaded PLGA or PLA-NPs on PGE2 expression in whole human blood as a model for niacin-induced flushing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NPs were formulated using a solvent evaporation process and characterized by size, polydispersity, zeta potential, drug entrapment, morphology, and drug release. NP in vitro effects on PGE2 release were measured via ELISA analysis. RESULTS: PLGA-NPs demonstrated the lowest NP size (66.7 ± 0.21 nm) with the highest zeta potential and percent drug entrapment (42.00 ± 1.62 mV and 69.09 ± 0.29%, respectively) when compared to PLA-NPs (130.4 ± 0.66 nm, 27.96 ± 0.18 mV, 69.63 ± 0.03 %, respectively). In vitro release studies showed that PLGA-NPs underwent significant reductions in cumulative drug release when compared to PLA-NPs (p < 0.05). Furthermore, when compared to plain niacin, PLGA-NPs significantly reduced in vitro PGE2 release (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the use of PLGA-NPs as a novel method of delivery for reducing niacin-associated flushing.