Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) supports adhesion and migration of mesenchymal stem cells and tenocytes

Figure 1 Characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) films. A: Optical Coherence Tomography and Image J software analysis were used to determine poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) film thickness. Average ± 1SD shown on graph, n = 9; B: PHBHHX film stiffness was measured with the BOSE ElectoForce 3200 system. Average ± 1 SD shown on graph, n = 3. ^aIndicates significant increase compared to ≤ 0.6% weight/volume PHBHHx. Trend lines are indicated by hatched red lines.

Figure 2 Cell attachment to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) films. A: Number of tenocytes attached to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) films of varying % weight/volume polymer concentration; B: Tenocyte attachment to films of varying % weight/volume polymer concentration as a percentage of total cell number in the well; C: Number of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) attached to varying % weight/volume concentration of polymer; D: hMSCs attachment to films of varying % weight/volume polymer concentration as a percentage of total cell number in the well. Axes are as labeled, error bars indicate one standard deviation. ^aIndicates P≤ 0.05, ^bP≤ 0.02, ^dP≤ 0.01 vs≤ 0.8% weight/volume PHBHHx or as indicated.

Figure 3 Representative images showing surface and cross section views through poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) films. A: tenocytes 21% O₂, 24 h; B: tenocytes 21% O₂, 72 h; C: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) 21% O_2, 24 h; D: hMSCs 21% O_2, 72 h; E: Tenocytes 2% O₂, 24 h; F: Tenocytes 2% O₂, 72 h; G: hMSCs 2% O_2, 24 h; H: hMSCs 2% O_2, 72 h. All images were taken at 10 × magnification. x-y indicates surface view, x-z and y-z indicate reconstructed cross section views.