Evaluation of cellulose nanocrystal addition on morphology, compression modulus and cytotoxicity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) scaffolds

Author(s)

do Amaral Montanheiro, Thais Larissa ^{[1, 2]} ; Montagna, Larissa Stieven ^[2] ; Patrulea, Viorica ^[3] ; Jordan, Olivier ^[3] ; Borchard, Gerrit ^[3] ; Monteiro Lobato, Gabriela Matheus ^[4] ; Catalani, Luiz Henrique ^[4] ; Lemes, Ana Paula ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Technol Inst Aeronaut, Div Fundamental Sci, Lab Nanotechnol, Praca Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 Vila Acacias, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Technol Lab Polymers & Biopolymers, 330 Vila Nair, BR-12231280 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Lausanne, Univ Geneva, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, 1 Rue Michel Servet, CH-1211 Geneva - Switzerland

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Lab Polymer Biomat, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 748, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Materials Science; v. 54, n. 9, p. 7198-7210, MAY 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Nanocomposite scaffolds of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with 1, 2 and 3% (wt) of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were produced by thermally induced phase separation. CNC presented an average length of 91 +/- 26 nm and average diameter of 7 +/- 1 nm, determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and X-ray microtomography showed porous morphology with interconnected pores, porosity between 41 and 77% and micron-sized CNC dispersion along the samples. Pore distribution after introducing CNC was less regular with an average reduction of 37% in the porosity. The compression modulus was improved about 28% for PHBV/1% CNC, 25% for PHBV/2% CNC and 63% for PHBV/3% CNC. Mouse fibroblasts attached and proliferated better on PHBV/CNC scaffolds surface than on neat PHBV or tissue culture plate controls. After 10 days of cell culture, PHBV/2% CNC sample enhanced cell proliferation with 42%, compared to neat PHBV. Therefore, the addition of CNC can improve both compressive modulus and cell proliferation, making the composite scaffold a potential candidate for tissue engineering. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/27064-9 - Utilization of cellulose nanocrystals in the production of polymer nanocomposites for applications in the medical area
• Grantee: Ana Paula Lemes
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/21442-6 - Synthetic and natural polymers applied to tissue engineering
• Grantee: Luiz Henrique Catalani
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants