Valorisation of Yellowfin tuna bone waste into biocompatible hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite plays a crucial role in bone tissue engineering applications. Past studies have confirmed that synthetic hydroxyapatite does not have better structural properties, metabolic activity, or response to the environment. Fish bone-derived hydroxyapatite is a better alternative; however, available extraction methods require high cost, energy, and technology. Therefore, this study focused on developing a less energy-intensive method to extract hydroxyapatite from fish bone waste. Three methods were modified, and hydroxyapatite was successfully extracted from processing bone waste of Yellowfin tuna, a species processed in the fish industry on a large scale, generating a significant amount of high-quality fish waste. Characterisation of hydroxyapatite was done using particle size analysis, ATR-FTIR, and XRD to determine its physicochemical properties. Biocompatibility assessments were performed using MTT assay and SEM imaging. Results demonstrated that the modified hydroxyapatite extraction protocol yielded particles of micrometre size for biomedical applications, with a superior crystalline structure for enhanced biocompatibility, supporting cellular attachment and proliferation. Cell viability tests and the SEM images indicated no significant adverse effect of the extracted hydroxyapatite on human fibroblast cells. In conclusion, this study presents a method to utilise fish bone waste to extract hydroxyapatite for biomedical applications while addressing environmental concerns related to fish waste disposal.