The role of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐based derivatives in skin, nerve, cartilage, and bone tissue engineering applications—An updated review

Abstract

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) has gained significant attention in the realm of medical applications in recent years. This acceptability is rooted in its bioactive properties and remarkable biocompatibility, as the degradation products exhibit negligible cytotoxicity. PHB boasts commendable mechanical resilience, distinguishing it from other polymers commonly used in tissue engineering. Using PHB in fabricating 3D scaffolds serves various objectives, often involving a combination with other polymers, ceramics, fibers, or regenerative factors. This distinctive approach sets it apart, leading to the creation of composite biomaterials. These incorporated materials enhance characteristics such as brittleness, hydrophobicity, degradation rate, and biocompatibility, within the composite. This review delves into the diverse roles that PHB, its alloys, and its compounds play in the engineering of skin, nerve, cartilage, and bone tissues. We explain these roles by highlighting key methodologies for crafting 3D tissue scaffolds with widely adopted techniques, including polymeric sponges, electrospinning, and salt leaching.