The drug release rate was studied for an anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, in a modified carrier polymer matrix. Nanohybrids were synthesized of layered double hydroxide functionalized with ibuprofen. The ibuprofen was tethered with the layered double hydroxide and blended into the polymer, Poly I lactic acid (PLLA). Effective weight percentages of 3 and 5% of the nanohybrids were used in the polymer producing nanocomposite films. Corresponding films of 1.2 and 2 wt.% of pure ibuprofen were used in the polymer. The cumulative drug release rate of the nanocomposite films increased from similar to 10% to 60%. The mechanism for release changed from diffusion control (stage 1) to a mix diffusion/ion-exchange control (stage 2) for the nanocomposite films. There was an improvement of elastic modulus for the nanocomposite films. These results indicated that nanocomposite films showed a significant improvement over the non-nanocomposite films. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.