Biocompatibility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

As a new member of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBVHHx) was produced by recombinant Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4. PHBVHHx showed a rougher surface and had higher hydrophobicity than the well-studied polymers poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) adhered better on PHBVHHx film than on tissue culture plates (TCPs), PLA film and PHBHHx film. The cell number on the PHBVHHx film was 115% higher than that on the TCPs, 66% higher than on the PHBHHx film and 263% higher than on the PLA film (p<0.01). PHBVHHx also supported the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Previous studies have shown that all PHA polymers tested were either poorer than or equal to TCPs for supporting cell growth. PHBVHHx is the only PHA polymer to significantly increase cell numbers compared with TCPs. These data demonstrate that PHBVHHx could be a promising biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.