Study on the biocompatibility of novel terpolyester poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)

Terpolyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBVHHx) containing 5.3 mol % 3-hydroxyvalerate (3-HV) and 10.2 mol % 3-hydroxyhexanoate was obtained via microbial synthesis using recombinant Aeromonas hydrophila. For the first time in vitro biocompatibility of the terpolyester was evaluated in comparison with poly(L-lactic acid), poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). Scanning electron microscopy showed whorls-like morphology only on PHBVHHx film surface. Methylthiazol tetrazolium assay demonstrated that PHBVHHx was better than the above four materials in promoting cell attachment and proliferation of fibroblast cell line L929 and osteoblast cell line MC3T3, respectively. Histological study using rabbits proved that PHBVHHx was a fairly harmless implantable biomaterial. Thus, PHBVHHx with an adjustable mechanical properties, combined with its biocompatibility, are in the process of developing into a new generation of bioimplant material.