Fabrication, microstructure characterization, and degradation performance of electrospun mats based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3 hydroxyvalerate)/polyethylene glycol blend for potential tissue engineering.

There have been strong demands for nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning for various fields due to their various advantages. Electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) fibre mats were prepared. The effects of processing variables as well as the inclusion of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on the morphologies of generated fibres were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The average fibrous diameter was monitored in the range 400-3000 nm relying on the total content of PEG. The fluorescence cell imaging of electrospun mats was also explored. The results of cell viability demonstrated that skin fibroblast BJ-1 cells showed different adhesions and growth rates for the three kinds of PHBV fibres. Electrospun PHBV mats with low amount of PEG offer a high-quality medium for cell growth. Therefore, those mats exhibited high potential for soft tissue engineering, in particular wound healing.