Abstract
As a new member of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family, the novel polyester poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx)) was produced by recombinant Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4 and used for the first time to test its biocompatibility. It was shown that P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) had higher hydrophobicity, surface energy, and rougher surface than the well‐studied polymers poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) attached better on P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) film than on tissue culture plates (TCPs), PLA film, and PHBHHx film. MSC proliferation on P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) film was 126% higher than that on TCPs, 84% higher than that on PHBHHx film, and 312% higher than that on PLA film (p < 0.01). P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) also supported osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Previous studies found that all PHA materials tested were either less than or equal to TCPs for supporting cell growth. Among all PHA materials tested, P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) was the only PHA material to significantly promote cell proliferation compared with TCPs. P(3HB‐4HB‐3HHx) could be exploited for applications in bone tissue engineering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2008