The　effectiveness　of　poly(aspartic　acid-co-L-lactide)　(PAL)　and　poly(malic　acid-co-L-lactide)　(PML)　oligomers　as　degradation　accelerators　for　poly(L-lactic　acid)　(PLLA)　was　investigated　in　a　phosphate　buffer　solution　at　40　degrees　C.　It　was　found　that　the　hydrolysis　rate　constant　of　the　PLLA　at　20　wt%　loading　is　enhanced　15　times　by　PAL　and　34　times　by　PML　The　superiority　of　PML　to　PAL　is　probably　related　to　its　higher　ability　as　acidic　catalyst　and　higher　miscibility　with　PLLA.　Since　PML　and　its　decomposition　products　are　environmentally　safe　and　biocompatible,　the　present　study　demonstrates　that　PML　is　a　promising　biomaterial　as　a　carrier　matrix　for　biopharmaceuticals　and　for　tissue　regeneration.　Our　findings　also　proved　the　usefulness　of　PLLA　blends　containing　a　degradation　accelerator　in　applications　necessary　to　tune　the　degradation　rate,　since　the　blends　are　much　easier　to　tailor　the　degradation　rate　compared　to　conventional　PLLA　copolymers　such　as　poly(lactide-co-glicolide).　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.