Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates, promising new biomedical materials for the future

Rai R, Keshavarz T, Roether JA, Boccaccini AR, Roy I (2011)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2011

Journal

Materials Science & Engineering R-Reports Elsevier

Publisher: Elsevier

Pages Range: 29–47

Journal Issue: 72

DOI: 10.1016/j.mser.2010.11.002

Abstract

Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates, mcl-PHAs (C6-C 14 carbon atoms), are polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates produced mainly by fluorescent Pseudomonads under unbalanced growth conditions. These mcl-PHAs which can be produced using renewable resources are biocompatible, biodegradable and thermoprocessable. They have low crystallinity, low glass transition temperature, low tensile strength and high elongation to break, making them elastomeric polymers. Mcl-PHAs and their copolymers are suitable for a range of biomedical applications where flexible biomaterials are required, such as heart valves and other cardiovascular applications as well as matrices for controlled drug delivery. Mcl-PHAs are more structurally diverse than short chain length PHAs and hence can be more readily tailored for specific applications. Composites have also been fabricated using mcl-PHAs and their copolymers, such as poly (3-hydroxyoctanoate) [P(3HO)] combined with single walled carbon nanotubes and poly(3-hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] combined with hydroxyapatite. Because of these attractive properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility and tailorability, Mcl-PHAs and their composites are being increasingly used for biomedical applications. However, studies remain limited mainly to P(3HO) and the copolymer P(3HB-co-3HHx), which are the only mcl-PHAs available in large quantities. In this review we have consolidated current knowledge on the properties and biomedical applications of these elastomeric mcl-PHAs, their copolymers and their composites. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Authors with CRIS profile

Ranjana Rai Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien) Aldo Boccaccini Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Biomaterialien)

Involved external institutions

University of Westminster GB United Kingdom (GB) Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Rai, R., Keshavarz, T., Roether, J.A., Boccaccini, A.R., & Roy, I. (2011). Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates, promising new biomedical materials for the future. Materials Science & Engineering R-Reports, 72, 29–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mser.2010.11.002

MLA:

Rai, Ranjana, et al. "Medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates, promising new biomedical materials for the future." Materials Science & Engineering R-Reports 72 (2011): 29–47.

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