Poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐based constructs with novel characteristics for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications—A review

Abstract

Herein, we reviewed polymeric constructs of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) at large and poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (P3HB), in particular, for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. Polymeric constructs that can efficiently respond to numerous variations in their surroundings have gained notable attention from different industrial sectors such as biomedical, clinical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical. Among them, considerable importance is given to their drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. PHAs with peculiar reference to P3HB are gaining prominence attention as candidate materials with such requisite potentialities. The unique structural and functional characteristics of PHAs and P3HB are of supreme interest and being used to engineer novel constructs for efficient drug delivery and tissue regeneration purposes. So far, an array of methodological approaches, such as in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo techniques have been exploited though using different materials with different geometries for a said purpose. However, a low‐level production majorly limits their proper exploitation. Various physiochemical characteristics and production strategies have been introduced in this review. The data have been summarized on PHAs production by several microorganisms aiming to cover the scope of the last 10 years. The present review highlights the recent applications of PHAs and P3HB‐based constructs, such as micro/nanoparticles, biocomposite, nanofibers, and hydrogels as novel drug carries for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In summary, drug delivery and tissue engineering potentialities of PHAs and P3HB‐based constructs are discussed with suitable examples and envisioned directions of future developments.

Influence of the thermomechanical degradation on the formation of the crystalline structure of PHBV evaluated by temperature‐resolved SAXS experiments

“…[19] The resulting torque vs time curves were plotted and compared with the neat polymer. The mechanical energy (E m ) (kJ kg −1 ) was calculated from the curves using Equation (1):…”

“…Poly(hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a biodegradable and biocompatible random copolymer of natural origin with a great interest as a substitute for conventional thermoplastics in several applications, including packing industry, drug delivery, tissue engineering, among others. [ 1 ] However, PHBV is sensitive to high temperatures and shear stresses associated with melt processing. [ 2 ] Both of these factors cause a drastic reduction in molecular weight, although it is reported that a pretreatment of the polymer in the synthesis process or prior to the melt processing might promote an improvement on its thermal and chemical stability.…”

Electrospun progesterone‐loaded cellulose acetate nanofibers and their drug sustained‐release profiles

“…[2,3] Drugs can be administered via oral, parenteral (intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal, and intravenous), rectal, sublingual/ buccal, vaginal, ocular, nasal, transdermal, or via inhalation. [1,4] Compared with ordinary dosage methods (ie, oral ingestion and intravenous injection), the controlled release formulations display more precise dosage control, decrease side effects, and reduce dosages of drug necessary to induce similar therapeutic effects, improving patient compliance and convenience. [5] The release effectiveness of the encapsulated drug depends on its loading efficacy and release mechanisms, including the swelling, diffusion, desorption, and degradation of the matrix.…”

Development and Characterization of Nanoparticles-Loaded Bio-composites for Biomedical Settings

“…An array of multi-functional biomaterials is evolving with enormous curiosity for researchers due to their range of applications. Research is underway around the globe to engineer pristine or hybrid polymer-based bio-composites that plays a substantial role in a field of catalysis, enzymology, environmental, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications [1][2][3][4][5] . Bio-composites can be engineered using naturally occurring biopolymers either in pristine form or the combination of multi-materials.…”

“…Likewise, synthetic polymer-based bio-composites, nano-composites (based on pristine or hybrid biopolymers) also exhibit inherited or improved structural and multi-functional attributes, for example, biocompatibility, biodegradability, (re)generatability, renewability, recyclability, high and efficient functionality against various substrates, induced turn-over, and overall cost-effectiveness are of high interest for numerous applications. Individually or collectively, all those properties of bio-composites open new and interesting perspectives with notable incidences in the environmental, biomedical, and biotechnological sector of the modern-day world 5,[7][8][9] .…”