Fuente: PubMed "agrofood sustainability" Int J Biol Macromol. 2026 Aug 5;379:153952. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153952. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThis study explores the valorisation of papaya leaf waste (LW) as a functional agent in biodegradable films based on a polylactic acid matrix based on 70 wt% of virgin PLA and 30 wt% of reprocessed PLA (PLA/rPLA) further plasticized with acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) at 15 wt%. LW was fully characterized in terms of its lignocellulosic composition, thermal stability, and antioxidant properties. It was incorporated at 1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt% into PLA/rPLA and PLA/rPLA-ATBC blends, which were processed into films by extrusion followed by compression molding. The transparent films exhibited a continuous structure without visible defects. The incorporation of LW reduced light transmission, particularly in the UV range, with the 3 wt% formulation showing the most significant blocking effect. ATBC enhanced filler dispersion, reduced interfacial tension, and improved film flexibility and cohesion. Compared with the control, the PLA/rPLA-ATBC-3%LW formulation demonstrated the best overall performance, increasing elongation at break from 1.3 to 6.9% and tensile strength from 22 to 25 MPa, while reducing Young's modulus from 2040 to 1177 MPa, thus indicating enhanced flexibility without compromising mechanical resistance, together with suitable hydrophobicity for food packaging applications. Thermal and barrier properties remained adequate, while disintegration under composting conditions reached ∼90% of mass loss after 22 days. The PLA-rPLA-ATBC-3%LW formulation emerged as the most promising material, providing an optimal balance of processability, mechanical and optical functionality, and environmental profile. This system supports circular-economy strategies by valorising agro-industrial by-products and broadens range of PLA-rPLA-based materials in different usage scenarios.PMID:42556677 | DOI:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153952