title: Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) scaffolds with good mechanical properties and biocompatibility.
abstract: Blending microbial polyesters polyhydroxyalkanoates containing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) were turned into films and scaffolds. The films made from blending polyesters showed that the elongation to break of the blending PHBHHx/PHB film increased from 15% to 106% when PHBHHx content in the blend increased from 40% to 60%. Scaffolds made of PHBHHx/PHB consisting of 60 wt% PHBHHx showed strong growth and proliferation of chondrocytes on the blending materials under scanning electron microscope. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the extra cellular matrix on the scaffolds demonstrated a high level of calcium and phosphorus elements in a molar ratio of Ca/P at 1.66, this is approximately equal to that of natural material hydroxyapatite which has a Ca/P ratio of 1.67. This suggested that the chondrocyte cells grown on PHBHHx/PHB scaffolds presented effective physiological function for generation of cartilage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chun Chen
authors.forename: Guo Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007596:Joints / Q000166:cytology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013718:Tensile Strength; D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates
chemical_list: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002208:Caproates; D011091:Polyesters; C115940:poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate); D000094122:Polyhydroxybutyrates