Preparation And Application Of Nano-Fibrous Polyhydroxybutyrate Matrix As Cell Growth

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have been demonstrated to be a family of biopolymers with good biodegradability and biocompatibility. To mimic the real microenvironment of extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell growth, novel nano-fibrous matrices based on PHA polymers were prepared via a solution freeze drying process. Three-dimensional interconnected fibrous networks were observed in these matrices with average fiber diamaters of 50 ~ 500 nm, which are very similar to the major ECM component collagen. Compared with a nano-fibrous polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) matrix, the mechanical properities of blended PHA nano-fibrous matrices were significantly improved, especially those matrices of PHA blends PHB/PHBHHx containing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and copolyesters PHBHHx consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate, and PHB/P3HB4HB that are PHB blended with copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate, respectively. More important, cell attachment and growth of human keratinocyte cell line HaCat on the nano-fibrous PHA matrices showed a notably improvements over those on PHA films prepared via an ordinary solution casting method. It was therefore proposed that PHA nano-fibrous matrices combine the advantages of biodegradation, improved mechanical strengthes, the architecture of a natural extracellular matrix, leading to a better cell compatibility, they can be used for future implant biomaterial development.