Haloarchaeal poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)--(3-hydroxyvalerate)] composite films reinforced with graphene nanoplatelets as a biomaterial for skin tissue engineering.

Halophilic archaea are an untapped source for a wide range of applications. This study explores the potential of a copolymer poly[(3-hydroxybutyrate)--(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), naturally synthesized by the halophilic archaeon, E3, as a potential candidate for a tissue engineering biomaterial. Composites and blends from natural PHBV were fabricated with poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) to enhance the properties of the material.