The experimental model of mesenchymal stem cells growth and differentiation based on application of porous scaffold from bacterial origin poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol)

Nowadays, the biotechnologically produced polymers, e.g. poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs), are widely used for biomedical applications (e.g. in tissue engineering), because of biodegradation and high biocompatibility. PHAs are used for development of various medical devices. These biopolymers can be also used for development of experimental models, e.g. 3D cell culture model. To develop 3D cell culture model, the porous scaffolds based on novel biopolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PHB-PEG) were produced. This biopolymer was synthesized by original method with use of an effective producer of PHAs, Azotobacter chroococcum 7B. The porous scaffolds were made by gas porous formation technique using ammonium carbonate as porogen. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCh) were used as cell culture, which tends to maintain 3D growth in experimental conditions. MSCh attachment, growth and proliferation were estimated with a standard method of viability cells and biocompatibility of polymeric materials, XTT (Biological Industries, Israel). Confocal microscopy was also used to examine cells 3D growth. The obtained data demonstrated that MSCh penetrated in produced PHB-PEG porous scaffolds and maintained in the pores 3D growth. Thus, the developed biopolymer scaffold can be used for application in experimental biology as 3D cell culture model as well as in tissue engineering as medical device.