The proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro is a key challenge for cartilage tissue engineering and their clinical applications. In this study, novel dextran grafting PHBV (PHBV-DEX) fibrous scaffolds were fabricated via surface modification. Compared with the electrospun PHBV fibrous scaffolds, dextran modified ones exhibited significantly enhanced surface hydrophilicity and bioactivity. The water contact angle (WCA) of those scaffolds was reduced from 117.3 +/- 4.30 degrees to 56.03 +/- 1.13 degrees after dextran modification. PHBV-DEX scaffold significantly promoted the growth of BMSCs compared with unmodified one, suggesting that it can be potentially applied in tissue engineering. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.