Bioactivity evaluation of bio-hydroxyapatite derived from Spanish mackerel in composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

This research focuses on the interaction between fish bone extracted hydroxyapatite and polyvinyl alcohol as the composite material of a scaffold with the ions presented in a simulated body condition to study on the composite’s bioactivity and biodegradability. This was achieved by synthesizing scaffold with different amount of hydroxyapatite particles using the solvent casting method and with that done, the scaffolds were soaked in simulated body fluid for 7 and 14 days. Studies and investigations were done based on the weight difference before and after immersion of samples in simulated body fluid and the FTIR characterization of the samples before and after immersion. The weight analysis of the samples showed that along with degradation of the scaffolds as time passes, degradation of scaffold material and formation of deposits were present. The degradation of materials is due to the bioactivity reaction between the simulated body fluid and the scaffold where PVA is resorbed by the water contents and ions in relation to apatite in the fluid bonded onto the HAp contents in the scaffold. The most optimum composition for a long period of degradation and regeneration of apatite amongst the compositions studied was determined to be that with 100 phr PVA and 10 phr HAp. The FTIR results obtained also showed that the functional groups of both PVA and HAp exist in the samples before and after immersion as the absorption band for both the materials were present. The bands shifted had clearly shown that the amount of HAp related bonds had increased in amount. All in all, the results showed that fish bone extracted hydroxyapatite formed composite with PVA is a low cost biocomposite which could be a potential substitute of metal in bone grafting and a potential development in bone tissue engineering.