Inorganic nanosized layered double hydroxides (LDHs) modified with dodecyl sulfate (DS) ions were incorporated into semi-crystalline polylactide (PLA) nanofiber non-woven membranes by combining a nanocomposite technique and the solution electrospinning process. The structure, morphology and thermal property of the electrospun membranes were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). It was found that the melting point of PLA decreased upon the increase of LDHs content in the membranes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.