The Growth of 3T3 Fibroblasts on PHB, PLA and PHB/PLA Blend Films at Different Stages of Their Biodegradation In Vitro

Abstract

Over the past century there was a significant development and extensive application of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for their biomedical applications. This research investigates the dynamic change in properties of biodegradable polymers: poly(3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), poly-l-lactide (PLA), and their 50:50 blend (PHB/PLA)) during their hydrolytic non-enzymatic (in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), at pH = 7.4, 37 °C) and enzymatic degradation (in PBS supplemented with 0.25 mg/mL pancreatic lipase). 3T3 fibroblast proliferation on the polymer films experiencing different degradation durations was also studied. Enzymatic degradation significantly accelerated the degradation rate of polymers compared to non-enzymatic hydrolytic degradation, whereas the seeding of 3T3 cells on the polymer films accelerated only the PLA molecular weight loss. Surprisingly, the immiscible nature of PHB/PLA blend (showed by differential scanning calorimetry) led to a slower and more uniform enzymatic degradation in comparison with pure polymers, PHB and PLA, which displayed a two-stage degradation process. PHB/PLA blend also displayed relatively stable cell viability on films upon exposure to degradation of different durations, which was associated with the uneven distribution of cells on polymer films. Thus, the obtained data are of great benefit for designing biodegradable scaffolds based on polymer blends for tissue engineering.

Biodegradability of Novel Polylactide and Polycaprolactone Materials with Bacteriostatic Properties Due to Embedded Birch Tar in Different Environments

“…It depends on the activity of various enzymes. According to Zhuikov et al, (2021) [27], enzymatic degradation is found to significantly accelerate the degradation rate of PLA I PHB compared to non-enzymatic hydrolytic degradation. The first reported PLA-degrading enzyme was proteinase K from Tritirachium album [28,29].…”

Obtaining Active Polylactide (PLA) and Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Blends Based Bionanocomposites Modified with Graphene Oxide and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (scCO2)-Assisted Cinnamaldehyde: Effect on Thermal-Mechanical, Disintegration and Mass Transport Properties

“…Among these materials are biopolyesters, including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactide (PLA). These polymers are polyesters that are synthesized using bio-resources such as sugar or plant oil and are characterized by good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and sustainability, which make them a potential alternative for biomedical applications [3][4][5][6]. Biopolyesters can be modified via polymer-polymer blending, some of the commonly employed techniques include copolymerization, crosslinking, composition, and blends [7].…”

“…Meanwhile, Ausejo and coworkers (2018) investigated the PLA/PHB blends for their improved utility properties and biodegradability for use in additive manufacturing-3D printing [13]. Besides, PLA, PHB, and their blends can be considered for important biomedical applications as the production of conventional medical implantation devices, tissues engineered and controlled drug delivery systems, including repair patches, drug delivery platforms, wound healing, and biocompatible sutures [6,[14][15][16].…”

Assessment of implantable drug delivery technology: poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) / polypropylene glycol films containing simvastatin

“…PHB has been extensively considered for biomedical devices [22][23][24]. An example of this is the blends of PHB with hydroxyapatite that have been studied in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications [23].…”