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Use of Human Perivascular Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration
Published on: May 25, 2012
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Sustainable Eggshell-Based Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds and Membrane Protein Hydrogel for Regeneration in
Qianli Ma1, Katrin Anja Staudigel1,2, Kristaps Rubenis3,4
1Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo 0317, Norway.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 5, 2026
Summary
Eggshell waste is upcycled into amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) scaffolds for bone repair. Combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) and eggshell membrane proteins, these ACP scaffolds significantly enhanced bone regeneration in critical-sized defects.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Materials Engineering
Background:
- Critical-sized bone defects pose significant challenges in regenerative medicine.
- There is a need for effective bone graft materials that promote rapid and robust bone regeneration.
- Sustainable sourcing of biomaterials is crucial for environmental and economic viability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate porous amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) scaffolds derived from eggshell waste for bone regeneration.
- To assess the efficacy of ACP scaffolds alone and in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel and soluble eggshell membrane proteins (SEPs) in vivo.
- To investigate the potential of upcycled eggshell waste as a sustainable source for bone repair biomaterials.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of porous ACP scaffolds using pressure-densification and ice microspheres as space holders.
- Vacuum-infiltration of ACP scaffolds with HA hydrogel, with or without P2 peptide and SEPs.
- Implantation of scaffolds into critical-sized femoral and calvarial defects in New Zealand White rabbits.
- Evaluation of bone regeneration using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histological analysis after 6 weeks.
Main Results:
- All ACP-containing groups demonstrated improved defect filling and mineralization compared to the Sham group.
- The ACP + HA/P2 + SEPs group exhibited the highest bone volume, trabecular number, and bone-material fusion.
- ACP scaffolds promoted cortical-scaffold bone bridging, particularly when combined with SEPs, even in cases of graft displacement.
Conclusions:
- Eggshell-derived ACP scaffolds, especially when combined with SEP-enriched HA hydrogel, significantly enhance early bone regeneration in critical-sized defects.
- Upcycling eggshell waste provides a sustainable and effective source for both inorganic and organic components of bone repair biomaterials.
- This single-origin biomaterials package offers a promising approach for sustainable bone defect repair.
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