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An Eco-Friendly Process to Extract Hydroxyapatite from Sheep Bones for Regenerative Medicine: Structural, Morphologic
Sílvia Rodrigues Gavinho1, Mehmet Bozdag2, Cevriye Kalkandelen3
1I3N and Physics Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Hydroxyapatite derived from sheep bones, enhanced with magnesium, shows improved electrical properties for bone regeneration. This sustainable source offers promising applications in regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Materials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Hydroxyapatite (HA) is crucial for bone tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility and osteointegration capabilities.
- Electrical properties and ion doping, like magnesium, can further enhance HA's biological performance.
- Sustainable and cost-effective sources of HA are needed for broader applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extract hydroxyapatite from sheep femur bones.
- To investigate the structural and electrical properties of HA with varying magnesium oxide (MgO) content.
- To assess the potential of sheep-derived HA for regenerative medicine.
Main Methods:
- Extraction of hydroxyapatite from sheep femur bones.
- Characterization using Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), density, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
- Morphological analysis via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and electrical property measurements (frequency and temperature dependence).
Main Results:
- Magnesium oxide solubility was below 5% wt for heat treatments at 600 °C.
- Increased magnesium oxide content enhanced the electrical charge storage capacity of the hydroxyapatite.
- Sheep-derived hydroxyapatite demonstrated favorable structural and electrical characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Sheep femur bones provide a sustainable and low-cost source of hydroxyapatite.
- The addition of magnesium oxide improves the electrical properties of hydroxyapatite.
- This modified hydroxyapatite shows significant promise for applications in regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering.
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