AbstractTwo different approaches were used to fabricate porous scaffolds, and their in vitro drug releasing characteristics were examined. In the first method, a poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) solution and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) + acetaminophen solution was homogenized. The emulsion was then blended with a PLLA solution in chloroform. The resultant emulsion was freeze‐dried to form porous scaffolds. Various combinations were obtained by varying homogenizer speed and blender speed, and by varying the concentration of PVA and acetaminophen solutions. The in vitro drug‐release study was performed for 6 days in a phosphate buffer. The influence of structure, porosity, and drug concentration of the scaffolds on drug‐release rate was examined using design of experiments. In the second approach, scaffolds were prepared in layered constructs, with either a three‐layered or five‐layered structure. The PVA + acetaminophen solution was blended with PLLA solution using a blender. The drug‐release study was performed for 19 days. The effect of drug concentration, blender speed, and the thickness of the layers on drug‐release rate was examined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 2008