Evaluation of Chemical and Biological Properties of Biodegradable Composites Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Chitosan

In this study, composite films and scaffolds of polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and polysaccharide chitosan obtained via a simple and reproducible blending method using acetic acid as a solvent were considered. The degradation process of the films was studied gravimetrically in a model biological medium in the presence of enzymes in vitro for 180 days. The kinetics of weight reduction depended on the amount of chitosan in the composition. The biocompatibility of the films was evaluated using the Alamar blue test and fluorescence microscopy. The materials were non-cytotoxic, and the addition of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) to chitosan improved its matrix properties on mesenchymal stem cells. Then, the 3D composites were prepared by freeze-drying. Their structure (using SEM), rheological behavior, moisture absorption, and porosity were investigated. The addition of different amounts of chitosan allowed us to vary the chemical and biological properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) materials and their degradation rate, which is extremely important in the development of biomedical poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) materials, especially implantable ones.