Potential Applications of Polyhydroxyalkanoates as a Biomaterial for the Aging Population

•PHA has a vast potential in the biomedical field.•Life quality of aged people can be improved with better medical applications.•This is the first review on PHA's potential in treating the aged population.•Characteristics of PHA materials are summarized for the proposed applications. Aging is often accompanied by a surge in age-related chronic conditions and the gradual deterioration of tissue and organ functions. Hence, continuous healthcare support is necessary to minimize organ failure and to prevent complications and exacerbations. Biologically compatible materials with unique properties, like bioresorbability, are needed for many types of treatments. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a type of biological polyester that has thermoplastic properties and is biodegradable as well. PHA is being developed as a potential biomaterial for various applications such as vascular grafts, sutures and tissue engineering scaffolds. Nearly 150 different monomers are known to be polymerized by numerous microorganisms into PHAs having various physicochemical properties. Some of the PHAs can be further subjected to chemical modifications which widen their applications. Although many studies are focused on developing PHAs as a biomaterial for medical applications, there has been no report on their potential as a biomaterial to cater to special need groups like older patients who are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, bone-related problems and colorectal cancer. This review takes a closer look at the unique properties of PHA especially with regards to its suitability as a biomaterial for treating some of the complications faced by aged patients. [Display omitted]